It started with a Mikko Rantanen homecoming hat trick. It ended with the Avalanche’s most convincing win of the young 2022-23 season.
The Avalanche (6-4-1) swept its back-to-back with the Blue Jackets in the NHL Global Series in Finland on Friday and Saturday. Here are five things we learned from Colorado’s trip.
Finnish scorers get loud applause, but MacKinnon stars
They sang his name and surrendered their hats. Rantanen treated Finland to a hat trick Friday, including the go-ahead goal with 11:06 remaining in a 6-3 win. Not wanting to be left out, fellow Finnish wing Artturi Lehkonen scored 33 seconds into Saturday’s 5-1 rout.