Mikko Rantanen is set to make his return to the team’s lineup against the Chicago Blackhawks after missing 16 games with a lower-body injury, according to The Athletic’s Ryan S. Clark.
Rantanen suffered the injury Oct. 21 against the St. Louis Blues when his skate appeared to get caught on the ice, forcing his left ankle to twist awkwardly.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar had predicted Rantanen’s return would come Saturday after Thursday’s practice. The 23-year-old was initially labeled as week-to-week, but the 23-year-old winger ultimately missed more than a month of action. The Avalanche will regain his services for the second of back-to-back games against Chicago.
Rantanen produced 12 points (five goals, seven assists) through nine games prior to the injury. The 6-4, 215-pound forward was a big contributor to the Avs’ offense over the previous two seasons, tallying 87 and 84 points, respectively.
