Mile High Sticking
Fansided

Mikko Rantanen ends scoreless streak vs Blues

By Graham Tiedtke

Feb 18, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The rough patch that Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen has been through is finally over. After scoring two goals in a 5-3 losing effort against the Anaheim Ducks on January 26th, Rantanen hadn’t scored a single goal until Saturday’s easy 4-1 win against the St. Louis Blues.

With that, Rantanen now has 35 goals and 30 assists on the season as well as a plus/minus of three. It’s shocking that Rantanen had gone so long without scoring a single goal. Since the last time he did, the Avalanche had played six games, not including Saturday against St. Louis. They went 3-3 in that time.

Rantanen’s effectiveness in scoring goals had been missed. For a team that is fighting its way up the standings, Rantanen’s lack of goals is not an ideal situation for the Colorado Avalanche. That being said, this team is still showing a lot of fight. They were able to force the Pittsburgh Penguins into overtime on February 7th which is impressive. Unfortunately they did lose that one.

Over their last four matchups against the Blues, the Avalanche are 3-1, winning their last three. Their last loss against St. Louis came on November 14th when they lost 3-2.

The Avalanche need to start winning a lot more. They have to have no excuses anymore. Whether that means making a trade at the trade deadline or not, missing out on the playoffs this season would not be a good look. Rantanen needs to get hot again. At the end of the day, Rantanen has been the team’s leading scorer and to go so many games without a goal during this streak is not good.

Mikko Rantanen gets his 200th career goal.

Mikko Rantanen was drafted 15th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft and has been ultra productive since hi second season on the league. Rantanen finally got his 200th career goal on Saturday, which really should have come a few games sooner. Check it out:

https://twitter.com/nhl/status/1627032024514203648?s=61&t=zhzkwQeY90kNFd5o4twiIg

I’m loving the chemistry between Rantanen and star Nathan MacKinnon. It’s something that just never gets old. This is the sort of thing Avalanche fans want to see consistently from now on. Many things can go into a player’s slump and there certainly could be things pointed to as the reason for Rantanen’s. But right now, it doesn’t even matter.

Congratulations are in order for Mikko as he not only gets to celebrate the win but this great achievement.

Home/Avalanche News