Mikko Rantanen's Hat Trick Leads Avalanche to Victory

Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche secured his ninth career hat trick, leading his team to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Rantanen's decisive goal at 10:01 in the third period gave the Avalanche the lead, and he later scored into an empty net to seal the win. Nathan MacKinnon contributed significantly with three assists, maintaining his streak of points in 16 out of 17 games this season. The Kings' goaltender, Darcy Kuemper, exited early in the third period due to an apparent injury, with David Rittich stepping in as a replacement. Los Angeles struggled offensively, failing to record a shot on goal during the second period. The Avalanche are set to host the Washington Capitals next, concluding a four-game homestand.