Mikko Rantanen was the top scorer for the Avalanche in the previous season, and he has already started this new season with a fantastic performance in just one game.
The Finnish forward guided the Avs to triumph against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night, contributing by netting two of Colorado’s 5 goals and assisting in two more.
Rantanen also recorded four points in last year’s season opener. It’s only the third time in NHL history that a player has had at least four points in consecutive season openers. The only other players to do it were Peter Stastny (Avalanche, 1987 and 1988) and Syd Howe (Detroit, 1943 and 1944).
Rantanen scored his first goal during the second period at Crypto.com Arena. He skillfully outplayed Kings goalie Cam Talbot with a wrist shot from a challenging angle inside the left faceoff circle, placing the puck top shelf near the far post. His second goal occurred in the third period, as he expertly redirected Jack Johnson’s shot from the blue line into the net.
Rantanen expressed his excitement, stating, “I suppose I’m just really excited. I missed out on some of camp, so I was eagerly looking forward to playing. Moreover, playing alongside talented players definitely enhances the experience.”
We should designate the 2023-24 season as a time to appreciate Mikko Rantanen.
— Richie Cozzolino (@RichieCozz) October 12, 2023
After recording their 5-2 victory, the Avs will now travel to San Jose to play the Sharks on Saturday night.
