Mikko Rantanen's hat trick leads Avs past Blues in OT

[December 12, 2022] Mikko Rantanen scored three goals -- including the game-winner 29 seconds into overtime -- to lift the visiting Colorado Avalanche over the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Sunday.

Rantanen had tied the score with nine seconds left in regulation, then completed his hat trick by driving to the net to deflect home Cale Makar's rebound on the first shift in overtime.

Rantanen has 36 points (19 goals, 17 assists) in 26 games this season.

Pavel Francouz made 30 saves for the Avalanche, who snapped their four-game winless streak.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Brandon Saad scored for the Blues, who lost for the sixth time in seven games. Jordan Binnington made 28 saves.

The Avalanche had to kill off back-to-back Blues power plays during the scoreless first period, including a 33-second span of five-on-three play.

St. Louis mustered an offensive flurry late in the first period, but Francouz denied Brayden Schenn from point-blank range to keep the game scoreless.

The Blues applied some offensive pressure early in the second period, with their best scoring chance coming off Saad's unsuccessful shot from the slot.

Rantanen put Colorado ahead 1-0 with 9:02 left in the second period. Alex Newhook's outlet pass sent Rantanen up the right wing to score on a two-on-one break.
 

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The Blues earned good opportunities later in the period, but Francouz stopped Torey Krug's slap shot from atop the left circle and Jordan Kyrou's backhand chip shot breaking in from the left wing.

Colorado nearly doubled their lead late in the second period, but Binnington stopped J.T. Compher's blast from the left faceoff dot 25.7 seconds before the break.

The Blues staged an offensive flurry early in third period, but Francouz stopped big shots by Kyrou and Krug -- and Rantanen threw his body in front of another Kyrou blast.

The Blues made the score 1-1 after Makar took a double-minor high-sticking penalty with 12:08 left. Ryan O'Reilly fed Tarasenko for his power-play goal on a one-time shot from a sharp right-side angle.

Colorado got a late power play, but Saad scored a short-handed goal with 1:36 left in regulation to put the Blues up 2-1.

Rantanen tied the score at 2-2 with the Avalanche playing six-on-four with Francouz pulled for an extra attacker. Rantanen reached in behind Binnington to knock home a loose puck.

--Field Level Media

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