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Mikko Rantanen’s Hat Trick Fuels Avalanche’s Victory Over Kings

Mikko Rantanen delivered a stunning double strike in the final period, leading to his ninth career hat trick, propelling the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 triumph over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night. Rantanen’s ten-minute mark goal, his second of the evening, handed Colorado the edge in the third period and he rounded off his stellar performance with a vacant net goal with less than two minutes to spare, making it his second hat trick of the season.

Other Standout Performances

Artturi Lehkonen also found the net, while goaltender Alexandar Georgiev stopped 13 attempts for the Avalanche. The star-studded performance of Nathan MacKinnon, who contributed three assists, deserves a special mention. MacKinnon has managed to score points in 16 of the 17 games this season, including all 10 home games.

In the Kings’ camp, goaltender Darcy Kuemper blocked 18 shots before an apparent injury forced him to retreat early in the third period. David Rittich, who took over, completed the game with three saves. Adrian Kempe was the standout for the Kings, scoring twice, with his first goal coming only 32 seconds into the game.

Game Highlights

Lehkonen equalized at the 3:40 mark of the first period, but Kempe capitalized on a Colorado blunder to score again with just over four minutes left in the opening period. Rantanen’s equalizer came with less than four minutes remaining in the second period.

Key Takeaways

The Kings failed to make a shot on goal in the second period, with their first shot in over 23 minutes coming just 55 seconds into the third period, thanks to Kevin Fiala’s attempt off the right post. On the other hand, the Avalanche’s power play seemed off form all night. They struggled to make a shot on goal in their first three man-advantages, failing to generate any momentum.

Game-Changing Moment

It was a key moment when Logan O’Connor fought off two Kings players along the boards, allowing MacKinnon to retrieve the puck and backhand it to Rantanen, who then beat Rittich to put Colorado in the lead.

Historic Milestone

Notably, this game marked Jared Bednar’s 635th as coach of the Avalanche, surpassing Michel Bergeron to become the franchise’s longest-serving coach.

What’s Next?

The Kings are set to host Detroit on Saturday, while the Avalanche will finish a four-game homestand on Friday, hosting Washington.