Colorado Avalanche Mikko Rantanen has scored his 50th goal of the NHL season.
In the history of Finnish ice hockey, only the legends of the sport have been able to achieve a similar performance Jari Kurri and Teemu Selänne.
Kurri succeeded in the trick four times, Selänne broke the 50 goal season limit three times.
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Rantanen’s goal was scored in the match against San Jose Sharks in 16:45. However, the 50th goal of the season wasn’t enough for Rantanen, who crowned his day with a hat trick before the end of the second period.
The Finnish star, encouraged by the 3+1 performance in the match, was chosen as the best player of the match. Colorado finally beat San Jose with a score of 6–2.
Rantanen has now totaled 52+46=98 performances in 77 matches of the season. So the limit of one hundred points is only two points away.
Also a hat trick to Joel Armia
When the Montreal Canadiens beat their visitors the Washington Capitals 6–2 Joel Armia scored a hat trick by scoring his team’s second and fourth goals in the second set and the fifth goal in the third set. Armia’s first goal came from an underpowered effort and the third into an empty net.
It was the second hat trick of Armia’s NHL career.
With his trick, Armia became the top scorer of the match with his teammate who got three assist points by Michael Matheson alongside. Armia, chosen as the number one star of the match, has been encouraged by 14 (7+7) points this season.
Barkovic night, important points for Florida
Florida Panthers’ Finnish star Alexander Barkov scored two goals and picked up one assist as this team beat the visiting Ottawa Senators 7–2.
Barkov scored two goals, the first one at the end of the opening period with an advantage and the second at the beginning of the next period with an inferior power, giving the team a 3–0 lead. Startled by this, Ottawa switched away from their goal Leevi Meriläinenwho had time to save 9/12 times during his 21 game minutes.
Florida also scored Eetu Luostarinenwho rattled the net in the second period with a dominating power around the midway point of the game.
Barkov’s Florida is tied for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are just a point behind with both teams remaining in the regular season with three games left.
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First goal of Joona Luodo’s NHL career
The Buffalo Sabers have beaten the host team Detroit Red Wings 7-6 in a match that lasted until the shootout. Buffalo’s Finnish player in Mittelö Henri Jokiharju scored his team’s second goal and leveled the score at 2–2 in the first period.
Detroit’s goalie Ville Hussowho made 30/36 saves.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were badly beaten by the New Jersey Devils, who beat Columbus 8-1. Columbus scored the only goal Joona Luoto. It was the first NHL goal of the 25-year-old Luoto’s career. New Jersey also scored Erik Haula in the third period. Haula also got an assist in the same set Damon Severson from paint.
Kapanen decided the match in overtime
Carolina suffered a bitter defeat when the Nashville Predators beat their visitors Carolina 3–0. In the scoreless game, Nashville made 33 saves in front of the puck Juuse Saros.
On the other hand, the St. Louis Blues Kasperi Kapanen scored a goal in this team’s 3–2 overtime win over the New York Rangers. Kapanen scored the decisive goal in overtime.
The results of the NHL round:
Detroit–Buffalo hours 6–7 DET: Husso 30/36 torj. BUF: River ridge 1+1
Pittsburgh–Minnesota 4–1
New Jersey–Columbus 8 to 1 NJD: Haula 1+1 CBJ: Credit 1+0
Boston to Toronto and 2–1
Florida to Ottawa 7–2 FLA: Barkov 2+1, Luostarinen 1+0 OTT: Meriläinen 9/12 save. (for exchange on 21.24)
Montreal–Washington 6–2 MTL: Armia 3+0
NY Islanders–Tampa Bay 6–1
Nashville–Carolina 3–0 NSH: Saros 33/33 save
St. Louis–NY Rangers and 3–2 STL: Kapanen 1+0
Dallas–Philadelphia 4–1 DAL: Heiskanen 0+1 PHI: Ristolainen 0+1
Vegas to Los Angeles 5–2 LAK: Korpisalo 10/15 ret. (for exchange 21.02)
Vancouver–Chicago 3–0
San Jose–Colorado 2–6 COL: Rantanen 3+1
Seattle to Arizona 4–2 SEA: Tolvanen 0+1 ARI: Maccelli 0+1