Where is Rantanen? Who is Rantanen? Why is Rantanen? What is Rantanen?

[Calderon]

I don't know if this was mentioned already but Rantanen was directly involved in his team's last nine goals! And in 11 of their last 12 if you go a little further back. That's a crazy stat and shows how key he's become for the team, especially in the absence of Robertson and Heiskanen.

Given how Dallas lost their last seven games of the regular season and didn't have Heiskanen and then lost Robertson I was like 90 percent sure the Avs were going to win the series. As of now the Stars look good. They don't look too banged up by the Avs, got their game and Rantanen going and will likely get the injured duo back soonish. Of course the flipside of Rantanen being in on the last nine goals is that the rest of the offense struggled but the Stars' top six is very good and should get the ball rolling. Could definitely be a long spring in Dallas.

 

[BB88]

Rantanen sure showed up tonight when it counted

11 points in the last 3 games damm

 

[jalapenoWithAnH]

This thread lol

 

[BB88]

It was always so weird how much Avs fans complained about him even after posting 100 points seasons and being one of the best playoff players in history

If something was deserved it was this

 

[Shark Finn]

11 pts after the thread, where is Rantanen Mikko? In the 2nd round yeaaah!!

ftfy

 

[ZeHockeyFan]

11 points in the last 3 games damm

He shut me the f- up, that's for sure. Well done, Mikko.

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Posting in legendary thread

 

[GarlicbreadTB]

Considering it was the same season he was traded? Considering it happened in Game 7. Considering Colorado were 2 goals up in the 3rd period and he goes ahead and scores 3 goals knocking them out.

Any other examples? Perhaps even more cruel?

 

[bobholly39]

I can't imagine anything worst.

Especially with the timing of it all culminating in the 3rd period of Game 7

 

[behemolari]

Considering it was the same season he was traded? Considering it happened in Game 7. Considering Colorado were 2 goals up in the 3rd period and he goes ahead and scores 3 goals knocking them out.

Any other examples? Perhaps even more cruel?

according to Mikko it was not a revenge

 

[Shark Finn]

Legendary stuff. Has to feel bad for Avs fans, but they already have multiple Cups, so whatever.

 

[pelderhostiga]

Pretty hilarious when salty Avs fans think it was Rantanen's fault they didn't advance for the past two years in the playoffs when two years in a row it was Nichuskin who quit on the team at the worst possible time. And Nuke is still playing for the team and Rants is the one who got traded.

 

[Jumptheshark]

heading into the 2nd round of the playoffs

 

[D1az]

Are Dallas getting Heiskanen back btw?

DeBoer said that he expects him and Robertson to be back in the second round, but doesn't know exactly what games.

This is discussed after the 10-minute mark:

 

[AvroArrow]

That has to be the best revenge game

 

[serp]

Honestly sort of feels like this outcome was ordained the moment the Stars traded for Rantanen at the deadline.

 

[ijuka]

11 points in 3 games since this thread

 

[bobholly39]

I like Rantanen but I think the criticisms have been 100% warranted.

5 years in a row he was averaging a ~100-110 point pace over 82 games in Colorado.

Playoffs? Even better. 6 straights years in Colorado he was averaging above a point per game, and even more, averaging above a 96 point pace over 82 games (including 5 straight years of 100+ point pace).

So - exceptionally consistent, and high performer, and even moreso in playoffs. Before trade.

In Carolina: 38 point pace over 82 games
In Dallas rgeular season: 74 point pace over 82 games.
In playoffs - before yesterday had only 1 point in 4 games. Big game yesterday, but still below PPG.

I know the sample size is obviously smaller so far in Carolina and Dallas - but there's no question his production has been significantly down since leaving Colorado.

I'll quote myself to acknowledge his amazing turn around and my earlier doubts.

My issue with Rantanen is that I was seeing a similar pattern to Huberdeau and it scared me. Huberdau - a super consistent regular season player - got taken out of Florida, and his point totals completely crumbled. And Rantanen had struggled in Carolina and in Dallas during season, and up until a few days ago, in the playoffs too, and I was afraid we were seeing the beginning of a similar pattern.

I'll repeat - I always liked Rantanen. A few years ago he's one of about ~10 players I thoguht could win an Art Ross one day in the right circumstances, and I always thought he was fantastic in playoffs. So it's not a player I'm normally down on, quite the opposite.

It took a while to get him going, but wow. 11 points in final 3 games, including back to back 4 point games...hat trick in the 3rd period of game 7 while trailing 0-2....that's got to be one of the most impressive 3 game stretch in NHL playoff history, ever, all players combined. This was great. I was watching game 7 and rooting for Colorado, but when I saw Rantanen go off I was still just happy.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Where ? Destroying his old team.

 

[illone84]

Are Dallas getting Heiskanen back btw?

Robertson, Heiskanen set to return for Stars in Western 2nd Round | NHL.com

Leading goal-scorer, top-pair defenseman each missed opening series with lower-body injury

www.nhl.com

 

[Greatzsky 99]

finnish commentary

 

[HabsQC]

Getting the last laugh doesn't get any better than this.

 

[DaStinger]

This is the playoff magic I love! Couldn't write a better storyline.

 

[ijuka]

finnish commentary

So relaxing to listen to without Mäkinen, I always get an irresistible urge to mute whenever I hear that bozo talk.

 

[Armourboy]

Honestly sort of feels like this outcome was ordained the moment the Stars traded for Rantanen at the deadline.

Agreed. Wouldn't be shocked if you won't see a trade from Colorado to Carolina for a long time either. They gotta have Carolina's GM's picture on a dart board.