Mikko Rantanen needed just 38 seconds to completely shift the Avalanche’s fortunes in St. Louis on Sunday.

With the Avs trailing by a goal to the Blues, Rantanen tied the game up on the 6-on-5 attack with nine seconds remaining before capping off his three-goal performance with the overtime winner just 29 seconds into the extra frame. The goal helped Colorado end its four-game winless slide, defeating the Blues 3-2 at Enterprise Center.

It’s his second hat trick of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time for a bruised and battered Avalanche team looking to build some momentum as they continue to welcome fresh bodies back into the lineup. This time it was Artturi Lehkonen returning, paired on the top line with Rantanen and Valeri Nichushkin, who returned in Thursday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers.

Colorado and St. Louis were knotted up at 1-1 in the final stages of the third period. With both teams desperate for a victory, it felt more like a matchup where one crucial mistake could cost you the game. Like, say, taking a penalty with 2:42 remaining.

The call was made on Blues forward Brayden Schenn, sending the second-best power play in the NHL, albeit currently mired in a 1-for-18 stretch, to the man advantage. The Avs sent out all of its big guns in an attempt to capture a late lead and their first victory since Dec. 1. But in a strange turn of events, the Avs instead saw a broken play lead to a break for Brandon Saad, who scored shorthanded put the league’s worst penalty kill ahead 2-1 with just 1:36 remaining. It was the exact type of break the Blues needed in a game where they were just 96 seconds away from turning a 1-0 deficit through 40 minutes into a crucial two points.

But there was no quit in the Avalanche. They battled to the bitter end, pulling their goalie and using a 6-on-5 attack to put St. Louis on its heels.

The play started on Devon Toews’ stick along the half wall. The Colorado defenseman put the puck on goal but missed goalie Jordan Binnington and instead hit teammate J.T. Compher backdoor. Compher battled with the defender as the puck trickled toward the crease behind Binnington where Rantanen was able to swipe at the puck and tie the game up.

As expected, the goal sucked the life out of the St. Louis crowd as the teams were suddenly preparing for an unlikely overtime following Saad’s goal. Colorado had just two goals in its previous 184-plus minutes of play before Rantanen’s tying goal.

And to top things off, Rantanen quickly added another. What took more than three hours of game time was matched in just 38 seconds with Rantanen’s third goal of the day. Colorado sent out Cale Makar, Nichushkin and Rantanen, and the trio combined for the goal to put the game away.

Each of Colorado’s last four goals has come from Rantanen. His 19 on the season is tied for fifth with two others (Leon Draisaitl and David Pastrnak). He’s on pace to blow past his career-high (36) which he had last season in 75 games. He’s played just 26 games this year.

The two points in the standings elevate the Avalanche back into third in the Central Division. Colorado is tied with the Minnesota Wild with 30 points but has a game in hand and the first tiebreaker. The Avs also trail second-place Dallas by seven points but have two games in hand.

The Avs begin a four-game homestand on Tuesday with a matchup against the lowly Philadelphia Flyers.