The outlook wasn’t good for the Colorado Avalanche from the moment Mikko Rantanen peeled himself off the ice.
After his legs were taken out by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak, the star winger collided with the boards and was left writhing in pain on the ice. As he got to his feet, Rantanen nursed his left arm, his right arm reaching up into the area of his left shoulder. He skated to the bench and was immediately down the tunnel, and the post-game report wasn’t the least bit promising. Said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, Rantanen will be sidelined for weeks.