In Tampere, Finland, the Colorado Avalanche “hosted” the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday in a continuation of the NHL’s Global Series this season. The Avs took a 3-0 lead in the game and then tried like blazes to give it away.
Logan O’Connor and J.T. Compher scored in the first period to stake the Avs to a 2-0 lead.
Mikko Rantanen extended the lead to 3-0 early in the middle frame.
“I liked our effort tonight, I liked some of the things we did,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “It still wasn’t a full 60 (minutes) from us. I thought the first period was real good from our guys, making sure we weren’t give up a lot, scoring chances against. Second period I thought they outplayed us both on special teams and 5-on-5. Then in the third period, we stepped up and elevated. Really good effort from the guys.”
Then as most clubs have done this, the Avalanche sat back and watched as the Blue Jackets rallied with two goals in the second period, and a another in the third period to tie the game, 3-3.
Fortunate for Colorado, Rantanen hit for his second of the game, six minutes later off the power play to give the Avs a 4-3 lead, en route to a 6-3 victory.
The two teams meet again Saturday, with the Blue Jackets playing host.
The Avs improved to 5-4-1.
Rantanen finished the game with a hat trick, his third goal came with 64 seconds left in the game.
Alexandar Georgiev made 36 saves in the Avs win.
Jakub Voracek and Patrik Laine scored in the second period to close the gap to 3-2.
“Yeah, it was fun for the fans, not fun for us right now,” said Laine, who was serving a slashing penalty when Rantanen scored the game-winning goal. “As a fan, and as a person, I’m happy for [Rantanen]; as a hockey player, not really.”
Columbus’ Sean Kuraly scored early in the third period to knot the game, 3-3.
Columbus dropped to 3-8-0.
“It was a good hockey game,” Voracek said. “Even for the players, I am sure the other side felt the same way, it was an up and down hockey game, a lot of scoring chances, a lot of big saves. A lot of fight, a lot of hitting, lot of power plays. A fun hockey game to watch. Unfortunately, Colorado showed their experience.”
After Rantanen snapped the tie for the 4-3 lad to the Avs, Cale Makar added insurance with a strike for the 5-3 advantage.
Columbus scored on its only power play chance.
Colorado was 2-for-5 with the extra skater; Columbus has lost four straight, and have been outscored, 23-7.
Nathan MacKinnon dug the puck off the left boards and looked for Rantanen coming down center ice, as he crossed the blue, MacKinnon fed him the puck for a slap shot into an open net for the hat trick.
“We had a great start and we have to figure out a way to not keep giving up three-goal leads,” MacKinnon said. “But we did a great job of composing ourselves and handling it. A big power-play (goal) by Mikko to win the game. Happy with the effort the last few games for our team and hopefully we can play a better defensive game tomorrow night.”
MacKinnon had four assists in the win.
“It was really cool, all the kids [here] know us,” MacKinnon said. “It’s a long way to come, but when you see the happy kids and the happy people, it makes it well worth it for sure.”
Elvis Merzlikins made 30 saves in the Blue Jackets loss.
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