Rantanen enjoys memorable performance for Avalanche at Global Series

TAMPERE, Finland -- Mikko Rantanen is known as a cool customer among his Colorado Avalanche teammates, the type of poker-faced competitor who never lets the outside world see his emotions.

Until Friday, that is.
You can understand why. Imagine playing an NHL regular-season game in your home country for the first time, getting a hat trick and an assist in your team's 6-3 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2022 Global Series, then having an entire arena sing your name as the clock ticked down.
Even the Avalanche forward couldn't hide his feelings while listening to the capacity crowd of 12,882 at Nokia Arena start to chant:
"Miikkko Rantanen, Miikkko Rantanen …"
His eyes started to well up. Goosebumps began to form. In his wildest dreams, he could never have imagined this.
"It was really cool," the 26-year-old forward said. "I didn't really expect it. I thought the crowd was really good the whole game. I was happy to hear that.
"I was surprised. Gave me a few chills."
He wasn't the only one who got them.
Artturi Lehtonen said he too was moved by the vocal love being shown for Rantanen, his longtime friend who he's played with and against for more than a decade.
They grew up 20 miles apart, Rantanen in Nousiainen, and Lehkonen in Turku. Lehtonen's dad, Ismo, coached Rantanen in the past and trains him every summer. Ismo Lehtonen said recently that Rantanen was so small at age 12 he had to develop elite skills because he couldn't play any other way.
Years later, those skills were there for all to see. And to hear his pal being embraced by what seemed to be an entire country, well, it gave Arturri Lehkonen shivers as well.

Even when they were boys, he said, they could never conjure up a Hollywood script like this.
"When you're a kid, you know, Mikko and I are just thinking that we want to play in the Finnish league. And now, for it to turn out like this …
"I mean, it was fun to see his reaction and enjoy the moment. It was awesome. I was really happy for him."
So were the rest of the Avalanche players, who also greeted him with deafening cheers when he entered the dressing room.
Given his performance, they were well deserved.
"It was really cool," Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon said. "I can imagine myself being in my hometown hearing the chants.
"We're pretty far from Denver. [It] was pretty cool to hear that."
Interestingly, the game appeared as though it would lack drama early in the second period when Rantanen scored his first goal 35 seconds after the intermission to put Colorado up 3-0.
The game was in the bag, or so it seemed.
But the Blue Jackets had a hometown hero of their own in forward Patrik Laine, a native of Tampere, who helped Columbus claw its way back to 3-3 with a goal and an assist.
Suddenly, it was anyone's game.
Then came the turning point. WIth Laine in the penalty box, Rantanen scored what proved to be the game-winner at 8:54 of the third period. And after defenseman Cale Makar upped the Avalanche lead to 5-3, MacKinnon fed Rantanen for his third goal of the game, this one into an empty net with 1:04 remaining.

Cue the celebration. Hats began fluttering down onto the ice from the stands. The crowd began singing. For the final 64 seconds of the game, they didn't stop.
For his part, Rantanen embraced it all. The Avalanche were supposed to have played in the Global Series here last year, he said, but the event was postponed due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
On this special night, his patience was rewarded.
"It was a cool game and it was cool to play in Finland," he said. "Obviously I've been waiting for this. It was postponed last year. Really cool and waiting for the moment."
About 20 minutes after the final horn, Rantanen was outside the locker room being swarmed by friends and family. There were hugs and high-fives all around. Meanwhile, a lone fan could be heard still singing "Miiikko Rantanen" somewhere in the building.
"It's a night I won't forget," he said.
Neither will those fortunate enough to have been in the arena to watch his special performance.