The forward scored a power-play goal with 1.3 seconds left in overtime to give the Avalanche a 4-3 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Sunday. He also had two assists to become the first Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques skater to reach 30 points in the first 20 games of a season since Peter Forsberg and Joe Sakic in 1996-97.
Rantanen, 22, is the first to reach the 30-point mark in the NHL this season and third Avalanche/Nordiques player to do it after Forsberg in 1997-98 and Sakic in 1998-99. Rantanen leads the NHL with 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists), three more than linemate Nathan MacKinnon (29 points; 13 goals, 16 assists), and has held at least a share of the scoring lead since Oct. 23.
Rantanen's overtime goal at 4:58 is the latest scored this season, eclipsing the previous record set by Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin (4:54) in a 3-2 win against the New York Rangers on Nov. 9. The goal was one second shy of the Avalanche record held by center Matt Duchene, who scored at 4:59 in a 3-2 victory against the San Jose Sharks on March 10, 2013.
The Avalanche, who won their 1,000th game since moving from Quebec to Denver in 1995, visit the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, ALT, NHL.TV).
