Avalanche lose first game in regulation, and lose Mikko Rantanen ‘week to week’
The Colorado Avalanche lost in regulation for the first time this season, and forward Mikko Rantanen suffered what looks to be a very bad leg injury.
Update 9:30 a.m. CT: Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told media on Wednesday that Rantanen will be “week to week” with a lower body injury. Original story as follows.
The Colorado Avalanche have delivered on their promise to start the season, with a 7-0-1 start heading into Monday night’s game against the St. Louis Blues. They lost for the first time in regulation this season, but a bigger loss came when forward Mikko Rantanen suffered a lower body injury in the second period and did not return.
Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon are tied for the team lead in goals (5) and points (12) so far this season. Head coach Jared Bednar had no immediate update on the Rantanen’s status after the game, with an MRI coming on Tuesday.
NHL teams are intentionally vague on injuries, with generic “upper body” or “lower body” designations. But as Rantanen skated toward the puck along the wall, it’s obvious what exactly happened to him. Warning: The injury is pretty graphic if you’re squeamish.
Not ideal for the @Avalanche or Rantanen. pic.twitter.com/p9i2ExelhD
— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) October 22, 2019
Brutal looking leg injury for Mikko Rantanen pic.twitter.com/fVB24NGGJn
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) October 22, 2019
Rantanen clearly got his left skate caught in the caught in the ice, and his foot twisted in a way it’s not supposed to. There’s a wide range of possibilities for the injury, but there’s at least one immediate medical opinion out there.
I think the injury looks worse than it actually is
— Dr. Harjas Grewal (@Harjas_Grewal) October 22, 2019
There’s still a chance Mikko Rantanen has a broken ankle (can’t see through his skate and shin guard) but I think he actually has a high ankle sprain
Depending on severity, but I think it’ll be around a 4 week absence #GoAvsGo https://t.co/1fVGGgszoe
After topping 80 points in each of the last two seasons, and setting career-highs in goals (31), assists (56) and of course points (87) over 74 games last season, Rantanen signed a six-year, $55.5 million contract with the Avalanche in September. In three full NHL seasons he has been relatively healthy, missing a total of 16 games.
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Even with a sure intent to remain vague, a precise update what Rantanen’s injury is and how long he will be out should come later Tuesday. But based on how it looked in the moment, Colorado will have a significant void to fill on their top forward line alongside MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog for awhile.