Mikko Rantanen decided the victory for Colorado with his goal.
Mikko Rantanen decided the victory with a sharp cross. AOP / USA TODAY Sports
Although Colorado took the game to their heart’s content, the San Jose Sharks forced the visitors all the way to a tough match in their home cave. That’s where he became the decider Mikko Rantanen.
The Finn, the only scorer in the hard-fought game, tapped the puck through the post right into the top corner, past the game’s number one star by Mackenzie Blackwood.
If Rantanen’s goal is not visible on your device, you can watch it from here.
Colorado won the shots crushingly 52-21, but only Cale Makar managed to overtake Blackwood in regular time, and it was 1-1 for the tough guys.
Aho on the attack
The match between the Los Angeles Kings and Carolina also progressed to a penalty shootout in a 5–5 situation, although the Hurricanes led the game at best 4–1 and 5–2.
The Finns were very prominent in the match, because Sebastian Aho (1+1), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (1+0) and Teuvo Teräväinen (1+0) all managed to score.
Aho, who was chosen as the number one star of the game, completed a beautiful goal in the opening set with an underpowered effort, when he ran through the drive and flooded the puck to the Kings keeper by Pheonix Copley jump in.
Aho had a chance to decide the game already in regular time, when he got through again in the final set, but this time Copley took a longer stroke.
In the ranking competition, the two met again. This time Aho was more cunning again. He took Copley right out into the yard and then moved the rubber band into the empty oven in a controlled manner.
If Aho’s penalty goal is not visible on your device, you can watch it from here.
The rank race was decided in Carolina’s favor only in the ninth round. He became the solution unexpectedly Jordan Martinookwho lifted the puck to the ceiling with his knuckles.