DENVER — Mikko Rantanen tallied a hat trick in the third period, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday evening.
Rantanen’s second goal of the match, scored at 10:01 of the third period, provided the Avalanche with a crucial lead, and he capped off his hat trick with an empty-net goal just 1:59 before the final buzzer, marking his second hat trick this season. Artturi Lehkonen also contributed to the scoreboard, while goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 13 saves to secure the win for Colorado.
Nathan MacKinnon had an impressive outing with three assists, maintaining his scoring streak by having at least one point in 16 out of 17 games this season and scoring in all 10 home games.
On the other side, Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped 18 shots before exiting early in the third period due to an apparent injury. David Rittich took over in goal, finishing with three saves.
Los Angeles’ Adrian Kempe was a notable player for the Kings, scoring both of the team’s goals, including one just 32 seconds into the game. Lehkonen equalized the score at 3:40 in the first period, but Kempe responded by finding the net again after capitalizing on a turnover by Colorado with only 4:09 left in the first. Rantanen equalized for the Avalanche with 3:53 remaining in the second period.
Key takeaways from the match included the Kings’ lack of shots in the second period, where they failed to record any attempts on goal. Kevin Fiala nearly scored during a breakaway that hit the right post, but Los Angeles managed their first shot after more than 23 minutes of play, occurring just 55 seconds into the third.
For the Avalanche, their power-play unit struggled throughout the game. Colorado did not register a single shot during their initial three man-advantage opportunities and found it difficult to create any offensive rhythm.
A pivotal play in the game came when Logan O’Connor fought off two Kings players along the boards. Nathan MacKinnon managed to retrieve the puck and backhanded it to Rantanen, who then scored to give Colorado the lead.
In statistical highlights, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar marked his 635th game with the team, setting a new franchise record for the most games coached, surpassing the previous mark held by Michel Bergeron.
Looking ahead, the Kings are set to host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, while the Avalanche will face the Washington Capitals on Friday as they conclude a four-game homestand.