Mikko Rantanen records hat trick in 600th game as Avalanche drill Penguins
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Michael Bunting (8) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) reaches for the puck against Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Michael Bunting (8) celebrates in front of Colorado Avalanche's Samuel Girard (49) after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Cody Glass (19) celebrates with Philip Tomasino (53) after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, top, reacts behind the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) reaches for the puck behind Colorado Avalanche's Sam Malinski (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Colorado Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen (96) reaches to put a shot between his legs against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) reaches for the puck against Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates with Artturi Lehkonen (62) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) scores against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Colorado Avalanche's Mikko Rantanen (96) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
PITTSBURGH — Mikko Rantanen collected his 10th career hat trick and added two assists as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 Tuesday night.
Rantanen, playing in his 600th game, flipped in a puck over Tristan Jarry late in the first period, beat Jarry from in close early in the second and added an empty netter in the third.
Nathan MacKinnon added a goal and four assists for Colorado. Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen also scored for the Avalanche.
Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves for Colorado to win for the third time in four starts. Goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood, acquired in a deal with San Jose on Monday, was scratched due to an illness.
Michael Bunting scored his seventh goal for Pittsburgh. Cody Glass collected his first of the season. Jarry stopped 21 shots for the Penguins, who lost for just the second time in seven games.
Penguins: Even with an uptick in play of late for Jarry and backup Alex Nedeljkovic, Pittsburgh is hardly out of the woods in net. Jarry was shaky on the ice, and Nedeljkovic took a puck below his right eye while watching from the bench. Nedeljkovic left briefly and returned to the bench with stitches and considerable swelling.
The Penguins had trimmed Colorado's lead to one when Nichushkin stripped Pittsburgh's Marcus Pettersson along the boards at center ice and swooped in to beat Jarry to push the Colorado lead to two 3:23 into the third.
The Penguins visit Montreal on Thursday.
