Avalanche right winger and leading goal-scorer Mikko Rantanen was added to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol absence list Tuesday afternoon, joining goalie Philipp Grubauer and winger Joonas Donskoi.
Rantanen has played in all 43 games for the Avs and is second in NHL goal-scoring with 26, seven behind Toronto forward Auston Matthews. Rantanen is tied for eighth in points with 52, one behind teammate Nathan MacKinnon.
Colorado, which has been shut down since Donskoi was added to the list Friday, has a league-high three members on the list, which features eight total players from five teams. Avalanche games against the Los Angeles Kings last Friday and Sunday at Ball Arena were postponed and the club was also previously scheduled to begin a two-game stint at St. Louis on Tuesday.
The Avs are tentatively scheduled to return to play Thursday at St. Louis. There has been no indication that game will be postponed.
Colorado had three players on the list before rookie defenseman Bo Byram came off it Monday following his 10-day quarantine.
Grubauer is expected to complete his quarantine Saturday. Donskoi is expected to be in quarantine until Monday.
Colorado (30-9-4, 64 points) has just 13 remaining games. Because of the Avs’ postponements and the red-hot Vegas Golden Knights, who have won seven consecutive games, Vegas (32-11-2) now sits atop the West Division and leads the Presidents’ Trophy race with 66 points. The Knights have played two more games than the Avs, who are 9-1 in their last 10 games.
The teams are scheduled to square off April 26 and April 28 in Las Vegas.
National Hockey League Statement following today’s verdict in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/cj15NrR6yo
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 20, 2021