Mikko Rantanen's hat trick propels Avalanche past Kings

Mikko Rantanen scored three goals for his ninth career hat trick, including a go-ahead goal midway through the third period, Artturi Lehkonen had a goal and an assist, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 in Denver on Wednesday night.

Rantanen added an assist, Nathan MacKinnon had three assists and Alexandar Georgiev turned away 13 shots for Colorado.

Los Angeles goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves before leaving early in the third period with an apparent injury. Kuemper motioned to an official that he was injured and was replaced by David Rittich at 4:34 of the third.

Rittich had four saves.

The game was tied when Rantanen beat Rittich from the slot at 10:01 of the third. He scored into an empty net for his second hat trick of the season. He has 12 goals.

Adrian Kempe had two goals and Trevor Moore and Anze Kopitar had two assists for the Kings, who didn't record a shot on goal in the second period.

Los Angeles wasted no time in getting on the board. Moore passed the puck to Kempe below the right circle, he took a shot on goal that Georgiev stopped but Kempe put in his own rebound at 32 seconds.

Colorado responded a few minutes later when Rantanen took a shot from the left circle that Kuemper saved with his glove but the rebound came out and Lehkonen tapped it in just inside the right post at 3:40.

It was his third of the season.

The Kings went back in front late in the first when Moore fed Kopitar in the left circle, Kopitar passed it to Kempe through the slot, and Kempe knocked it into the open net at 15:51.

It was his seventh of the season.

Colorado controlled the play in the second period and got the only power play but couldn't generate any chances. The Avalanche eventually tied it when Cale Makar hit Rantanen with a stretch pass at the Kings' blueline, and he beat Kuemper over his right shoulder at 16:07.

--Field Level Media