Avalanche coach Jared Bednar needed only two words to ignite optimism in Colorado’s pursuit of a Stanley Cup: “He’s back.”
A return of critical importance.
Mikko Rantanen participated in Avs practice Wednesday, their last before departing to Calgary for Game 1 on Thursday night, without a red no-contact sweater for the first time since suffering a midsection injury (ribs or hip) that held him out of Colorado’s final eight regular-season games. The 22-year-old winger who compiled 87 points this season, second-most to Nathan MacKinnon’s 99, told reporters he’ll be at full strength for the Avs opening-round series against the Flames.
“I’m very excited and can’t wait to get going,” said Rantanen, whose last game was March 21 at Dallas. “The medical team did a good job and got me back in shape.”
Coach Jared Bednar confirmed Rantanen’s return and said he will be paired on a line with center Carl Soderberg, once again splitting up Colorado’s previous All-Star trio top line of left winger Gabe Landeskog, MacKinnon and Rantanen.
“(Rantanen) looks good and he’s been working hard,” Bednar said. “It’s a whole new level of intensity and competitiveness come playoff time. He’s well aware of that and I think that he’s been ramping up nicely. He looks better and quicker every day that he’s on the ice. We’ll see how he does tomorrow in the game and adjust his ice time from there. But I expect him to play a lot just like he normally does.”
The Avs are healthy up and down the roster, a luxury they didn’t have in last season’s first-round playoff exit, when top defenseman Erik Johnson was out with injury. Add in the experience a still youthful Colorado team brings back from a year ago and confidence is at an all-time high.
“Most of the guys played their first (postseason) games last year, so I think it’s an advantage for us,” Rantanen said. “Our roster has more playoff experience total than they have, but they’re still the favorite. We just go in to play now and we believe in this team.”
Dethroning top-seeded Calgary won’t be easy. But neither was Rantanen’s injury rehabilitation. He welcomes all doubters.
“I would have preferred to be on the ice, but it was fun to see how the guys did it; made the push and made the playoffs,” Rantanen said. “Now we’re here and anything can happen.”
