"Obviously the team is playing a lot better so it's easier to play on a winning than losing team. That's the biggest difference, probably," Rantanen said. "As a player I've gotten better mentally too. Physically, I have more poise with the puck. That's a big key to succeeding. Good linemates are helping me a lot. It's good to play there with two veteran guys, so it's a good spot for me and I really enjoy playing with them."
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Rantanen has been consistent.
"It's the element of being able to be a shooter and being able to distribute the puck to the other two guys," Bednar said. "He can protect pucks in the offensive zone. He's a big-bodied guy and it's hard to take the puck away from him, and he's been responsible defensively. He's really elevated his game this year and that's why he's so dangerous."
MacKinnon said Rantanen's been more successful this season, "probably for the same reason as myself. My first four seasons I played with different players a lot and it's tough to get good chemistry. We had good chemistry last year. We just couldn't score goals."
Rantanen put up pretty good numbers as a rookie last season, finishing with 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists), but he was sidelined early. He injured his ankle during the Avalanche's Rookie Showcase game against the San Jose Sharks on Sept. 17, 2016, missed training camp and the first five games of the regular season. But while last season continued, Bednar said Rantanen got more and more dangerous.
"He started hanging around the net more, scoring goals. With that comes confidence," Bednar said. "That growth and consistency comes with him moving his feet. When he does that, he's a lot to handle. He's a big guy. He has all the tools and now he's putting together consistency [that] makes him tougher to handle."