Former Rangers forward leaps from press box to top line for Finland in massive OT win against Sweden
Talk about making the jump from a low to a high. That exactly what former New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko did in a matter of days at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Kakko was scratched for Finland’s first game, a 6-1 loss to the United States on Thursday. But he was in their lineup Saturday for a thrilling 4-3 overtime win against arch-rival Sweden.
Not only that, Kakko played alongside Aleksander Barkov and Mikko Rantanen, two star players, after the first period. And he assisted on Barkov’s goal that tied the game 3-3 at 17:05 of the second period.
“Kaapo, he started really well, so that was the one reason why we needed to put him on the first line,” Finland coach Antti Pennanen said. “Some fresh legs and he can win the battles, and as we saw he can go to the net. That was one change we needed.”
Kakko got to the net on the tying goal and, in fact, it appeared that perhaps he was the one who scored it. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound forward bulled to the net after Finland’s zone entry and got his stick on a hard pass from defenseman Olli Maatta. Apparently, Barkov also got his stick on the puck as it deflected over the goal line.
It didn’t matter who scored it. Finland carried that tie through a scoreless third period before Mikael Granlund netter the winner at 1:49 of overtime. Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Kakko’s former teammate, opened the scoring for Sweden with an unassisted goal at 8:35 of the first period.
Kakko earned an assist and had two shots on goal in 13:13 TOI, all but five seconds at even strength.
Related: Why Rangers’ Chris Kreider could get first opportunity at 4 Nations Face-Off
Kaapo Kakko making most of second opportunities after being cast off by Rangers
To Kakko’s credit, there were no complaints from him when he was scratched against the U.S. Perhaps his up-and-down tenure with the Rangers helped prepare him to handle the scratch with the right attitude.
“I get it. It’s a lot of good players. I’m happy to be here. I’m just trying to enjoy my time,” Kakko told Mollie Walker of the New York Post last week. “I’m also ready all the time. If they need to change something, I’m ready to go.”
Kakko proved that Saturday. And now he’s an important piece for Finland, which plays a must-win game Monday at TD Garden against Canada. The United States secured a spot in the 4 Nations championship game, set for Thursday. But Finland, Canada and Sweden each have two points. So Monday is a massive day.
The 24-year-old forward is ready for the challenge. His confidence is much higher now after the Rangers traded him in December to the Seattle Kraken as part of a deal where the Blueshirts landed defenseman Will Borgen.
Kakko has 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 24 games playing in the Kraken’s top six. His 17:35 average TOI with the Kraken is more than four minutes per game higher than what he averaged this season in 30 games with the Rangers. He had four goals and 14 points with the Rangers before the trade and never had more than 18 goals and 40 points on Broadway.
“They really want me there,” Kakko said about the Kraken. “They’re going to give me a chance; that’s what they told me.”
But before he returns to Seattle to keep building on his new opportunity, there’s a chance to make incredible memories this week at the 4 Nations. And he’s already making the most of this latest opportunity on the international stage.
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