Postgame Avalanche-Devils: Mikko officially out of slump

NEWARK, N.J. – Last year, it was Gabe Landeskog who got a free couple of hats, courtesy of appreciative Avalanche fans here in New Jersey. Mikko Rantanen prefers ski hats when he dons a chapeau, but he didn’t mind seeing the couple of baseball caps that were deposited onto the Prudential Center ice at the end of Saturday’s game with the Devils.

A couple of days ago, Rantanen was being talked about in less-than-usual circumstances, after being dropped to the third line by coach Jared Bednar. The play by Rantanen since seems to suggest: “Message, received.”