Mikko Rantanen’s slump ends as he scores equalizer in Avalanche’s 6-5 comeback win
Mikko Rantanen chose the right time to break his slump.
After going nine games without a goal, Rantanen ended the slump in Monday’s game against the Calgary Flames. Not only did he score, he scored the equalizing goal in the third period and helped the Avs win 6-5.
“We played a good three periods and just didn’t give up,” Rantanen said. “We had a good chat in the second intermission that we had to shut it down”
Early in the game, it looked like Rantanen would break his slump — but it took time.
He had seven shots before scoring. Rantanen also assisted on Cale Makar’s power-play goal in the second period, which made it a 2-1 game.
After that assist, though, the game temporarily got away from Rantanen and the Avalanche.
Calgary scored four of the next five goals to take a 5-3 lead into the third period. And neither team scored for the first 12 minutes of the third period.
Then the comeback began. Ross Colton scored to cut Calgary’s lead to one.
And then Rantanen got his chance.
The 27-year-old forward found the puck in a crowd in front of Calgary’s net and deflected it past Calgary goalie Dan Vladar.
The scoreless slump wasn’t the only thing that fueled Rantanen’s goal.
“I had a lot of extra energy,” Rantanen said. “One of our Finnish NHL players’ dad was talking (expletive) about me in the media that I didn’t train last summer like I used to. He was making things up, so that was for him. If you talk (expletive), it’s going to come back to you.”
Rantanen knew his goal was meaningful, but also knew his team couldn’t win without another.
Just minutes after his goal, Rantanen had the assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s breakaway goal, which proved to be the game-winner.
While Rantanen’s scoring touch hasn’t been there in the last couple of weeks, he has quickly learned the value of facilitating, proven by his two assists on Monday.
“Anything you can do offensively to help the team, it’s a boost and gives you energy,” Rantanen said. “It was big.”
Rantanen wasn’t the only one who entered Monday’s game in a slump. The Avalanche had lost five of their last six games before beating the Flames.
Colorado’s three-goal third period is something Rantanen believes will give the Avalanche confidence amid their recent skid.
“We’ve been really working here,” Rantanen said. “The effort and the skating part of our game was there.
Rantanen understands that his success goes hand in hand with the team’s. And after a three-point game on Monday, he feels confident that he — and his team — can continue to be successful.
“It gives me a lot (of confidence),” Rantanen said. “That’s not the only thing. I want to win first and foremost. But I want to help the team do that.”
Colorado Avalanche 6, Calgary Flames 5
What happened: The Avalanche scored three goals in the third period to beat the Flames 6-5. They trailed 5-3 entering the third. Ross Colton, Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon were the scorers in the Avs’ dominant final 20 minutes. The win is only Colorado’s second in the last seven games.
What went right: Tomas Tatar, who signed with the Avs from New Jersey in the offseason, scored his first goal as a member of the team. His goal was Colorado’s first and tied the game in the first period. Rantanen, who entered on a nine-game streak without scoring a goal, logged three points — one goal and two assists.
What went wrong: Defense and goaltending were struggles in the loss. Alexandar Georgiev allowed five goals on 22 shots. He played the first two periods before Ivan Prosvetov replaced him to start the third.
Between the pipes: Georgiev, who allowed five goals in two periods on a .773 save percentage, was on track for the loss. But backup Ivan Prosvetov shut out the Flames in the third period to get the win. Prosvetov made 11 saves. Calgary’s Dan Vladar allowed six goals and got the loss.
Nathan MacKinnon goes for a faceoff against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
Avs defenseman Devon Toews looks for a pass against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin tries to poke a puck away against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. (Carson Field, The Gazette)
A puck goes past Valeri Nichushkin in the Avs’s game against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
Avs defenseman Devon Toews passes against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin goes after a puck along the boards against the Calgary Flames on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
Calgary Flames goaltender Dan Vladar, right, covers the puck as Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O’Connor, left, and left wing Miles Wood (28) look on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Denver.