Mikko Rantanen scores hat trick, Avalanche beat Sharks 6-2

SAN JOSE — Mikko Rantanen scored a hat trick to lead the Colorado Avalanche past the San Jose Sharks 6-2 on Thursday night.

Rantanen reached 52 goals on the season and finished with four points in the game. Nathan MacKinnon also scored a goal and had four points. Ben Meyers scored the other two goals for Colorado, and Alexandar Georgiev made 21 saves.

Erik Karlsson had a goal and assist to up his point total to 98 for the season. Steven Lorentz also scored for San Jose. Kaapo Kahkonen made 15 saves before he was pulled.

Karlsson scored his 23rd goal of the season when he crashed the net to find a loose puck to slot home at 15:43 of the first. Forward Jacob Peterson earned a secondary assist on the play extending his point streak to five.

Rantanen scored his 50th of the season at 16:45 of the first period by cleaning up a rebound in front.

During the second period, both MacKinnon and Rantanen had three points. Rantanen finished the second with two goals and one assist, while MacKinnon got one goal and two assists.

Ben Meyers scored his second goal of the season on a breakaway at 15:08 of the second frame. Matt Nieto would get his first of two assists to Meyers on the play.

Meyers added his third of the season at 3:12 of the final period. Nieto would get a secondary assist on the play.

Up next

Avalanche: Visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

Sharks: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.