Mikko Rantanen: 4 Point Night & Speed with Crossover Usage in Neutral Zone
Mikko Rantanen had a Game 7 for the ages last night against against his former club, the Colorado Avalanche. He scored the franchise’s second hat trick in a Game 7, the last being current Av Joel Kiviranta back in 2020. He had a 4 point game, singlehandedly knocked his former club out, and also scored the first ever 3rd period hat trick in a Game 7.
Remarkable storyline and remarkable way to end the series and move on if you’re Rantanen. Mikko continued to get better throughout Games 4-7, where in the first few games, he was really quiet offensively and wasn’t generating very much. That changed fast, especially now that he is up to 12 points in 7 games in the playoffs thus far.
Rantanen did a great job on one of his goals of making a highlight-reel play, propelling himself through the neutral zone and taking advantage of open space moving up ice with speed. Rantanen isn’t the fastest player, but he can get some speed going using his crossovers and being able to maneuver through his crossover usage when he routes up.
Rantanen did a very effective job of this in the neutral zone, where he was able to catch Ryan Lindgren not gapping correctly against him, allowing Rantanen to maintain his speed on O Zone entry and maneuver around Lindgren.
Rantanen did a great job of using his speed and crossing over to accelerate up ice, and then as he maneuvers around Lindgren on the strong side, Rantanen continues his route around the net. Rantanen quickly looks to get from the front post to the back post with the puck, trying to catch Blackwood out of position and tucking the puck into the back of the net.
The puck ends up deflecting off Sam Girard and into the net, and Rantanen tied the game inside this situation to get Dallas back at 2 here.