Mikko Rantanen leads Avs over Blackhawks

DENVER — Hours before he was to celebrate his 21st birthday, winger Mikko Rantanen on Saturday produced one of the best games of his infant NHL career. His centerman, 22-year-old Nathan MacKinnon, had an equally impressive performance as the Avalanche's two young stars led a resounding bounce-back effort in the wake of Friday's embarrassing loss in Las Vegas against the expansion Golden Knights.

Rantanen and MacKinnon each had two goals and three points as Colorado built a five-goal lead and held on for a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Pepsi Center. Winger Rocco Grimaldi, who was called up from the American Hockey League on Saturday morning, also had a big game by assisting…