Nathan MacKinnon had three assists and Rantanen scored a goal for the Avalanche (22-15-0), who have won four straight games and eight of their last 10. Mackenzie Blackwood made 34 saves.

“They always played us hard. Your team is coming (with you). “A lot of young, experienced players,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “I think it’s also our best version of ice hockey.

“I think we are becoming more consistent, more resourceful and more committed to the way we have to play all the time.”

Karel Vejmelka made 33 saves and Nick Schmaltz scored for Utah (16-13-6), which has lost three straight after four straight wins.

“We played against a really good team that was ready to play. They played hard,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “We do pretty well with these guys year after year. I think it’s a good combination. There is intensity and emotion on both sides. We did pretty well against them this year considering the quality of their team, but unfortunately that was a big game that we wanted.”

Lehkonen made it 1-0 for Colorado when he shoveled MacKinnon’s pass from the goal line to the middle at 11:52 of the second period.

“I was just crossing the net and trying to find a little space there and Nate made a great pass there like he went through two people. So I pretty much had a chance,” Lehkonen said. “It’s the type of player he is. You just have to have your stick on the ice and when you play with it, good things will happen.”

Schmaltz tied the score at 1-1 with a power play goal at 3:42 of the third period. He blocked Mikhail Sergachev’s point shot at the top of the goal area. Colorado had converted 16 consecutive penalties before the goal.

“It’s a one-shot game. “It’s a good hockey game,” Schmaltz said. “We fought hard and it’s unfortunate that we had to give one up there late in the third period. We couldn’t convert in the 6-on-5 game either.