Mikko Rantanen hits 50-goal mark

Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen scored a hat trick which included his 50th goal of the season in the 6-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on April 6.

SAN JOSE - Mikko Rantanen's 50th goal of the season wasn't the most spectacular, but the celebration with his teammates after was. 

Rantanen grabbed the rebound off a saved backhand shot from Nathan MacKinnon and put it past Kaapo Kahkonen's five-hole for his first of three on the night and 50th of the season. 

Immediately following the score, MacKinnon bearhugged his linemate against the glass with a smile so gigantic and genuine, you could feel the elation just watching it on TV. 

Devon Toews, Sam Girard and Evan Rodrigues then pile in on him behind the net to show their congratulations as well. When Rantanen skated back to the bench, he got stick taps and fist bumps from the entire team. 

But the celebration didn't stop there. Rantanen was greeted with water bottle showers and cheers after the game when he came into the locker room. And MacKinnon presented him with his 50-goal puck. 

"Good job boys," Rantanen said after he took his memorial puck. "Thanks for all the great plays, great assists this year. Big two points. Let's keep it going."

Rantanen is the third player in Avalanche history to achieve a 50-plus goal season and the first to reach 50 goals since Milan Hejduk in 2002-03. Joe Sakic had two 50-plus goal seasons, both years the Avs won cups in 1996 and 2001. 

"[I] play with good teammates and good linemates," Rantanen said. "They're making good plays for me to score, like today. It's just fun to share it with them, for sure."

Coach Jared Bednar said last week that Rantanen has elevated his game over the last five years to elite status and praised his improvement. 

"I'm sure it's probably been on his mind here for a little bit," Bednar said. "We're happy for him. He's put in the work to become an elite goal-scorer in this league, and then to see him hit 50 is pretty special."

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists and Ben Meyers put two on the board for the Avalanche in the win.