DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche may have All-Star forward Mikko Rantanen back for the start of their first-round playoff series against the Calgary Flames.
Rantanen has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury at Dallas on Mar. 21. Rantanen is second on the team with 87 points and third in goals with 31.
The right winger wore a red, no-contact jersey Monday at practice. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after afterward that Rantanen has been “progressing like just we hoped” and that he could be a potential player for Game 1 in Calgary on Thursday night.
Rantanen’s return would reunite him with fellow All-Stars Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. The trio has combined for 261 points and 106 goals this season.
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