What a weekend it was for Nathan MacKinnon. Already in the thick of both the goals and points race, the Avalanche’s top superstar had himself an insane two games.
After putting up two goals and two assists in a 9-1 rout of the Edmonton Oilers, MacKinnon topped that performance on Sunday, scoring twice again but adding three assists in a 5-4 OT victory over the Vancouver Canucks.
The Avs scored five goals, and he was in on every single one. He leads the NHL with 14 goals and 29 points. He’s two goals clear of the pack and four points up on second place. It’s, dare I say, the best hockey he’s ever played. And it’s a big reason why Colorado (10-1-5) has just one regulation loss through 16 games.
Taw a bow, MacKinnon. You’ve earned it.
READ MORE: The Aftermath: Gavin Brindley Has Arrived For the Avalanche
10 Observations
1. When the season began, I highlighted Martin Necas and Valeri Nichushkin as two guys who the team would need to pick up the slack for the goals that Mikko Rantanen used to score regularly.
While I still would like to see Nichushkin play on the top line with No. 88 and No. 29, I have to say, I never thought MacKinnon would be the goal scorer he’s been through 16 games.
Yes, MacKinnon scored 51 in the Hart Trophy year. But he’s also put up 84 and 89 assists, respectively in each of the last two seasons. I figured that trend would continue.
Last year he only had 32 goals in 79 games. He’s already nearly half way there.
Scoring 14 goals in 16 games is even more impressive when it’s preceded by seven goals in seven games in the playoffs. MacKinnon turned 30 in September. The top of the scoring race is littered with young forwards like Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier.
But Colorado’s top dog isn’t ready to give up his mantle. The 21:31 of ice time he’s seeing per game is the least he’s had since 2021-22. But he’s making the most of it in every way. The team finally has depth, and it’s making him better.
The Avs go as MacKinnon goes. And MacKinnon is dominating right now.
2. Mackenzie Blackwood hasn’t played much since getting healthy because he hasn’t had a chance to shake off the rust. Limited practice time and morning skates mean little ice time. Then you add in the fact that in his season debut, he faced 20 shots in regulation and three more in OT.
I’m guessing he’s not feeling the same after this one. Blackwood saw 16 shots in the first period and finished with 29 saves on 33 shots with not much defensive support. That’s the type of game that gets you into the rhythm. Those are the reps he needs. It still wasn’t his best hockey, but it was a step in the right direction.
3. The MacKinnon power-play goal in the first period was just the second on the road this season and the first since opening night in Los Angeles. They eventually got another one late from Artturi Lehkonen, which brings them to 3-for-31 on the road.
In Edmonton, they were 0-for-7. In Vancouver, 2-for-3. Despite the poor PP showing, Colorado is 6-1-3 in 10 road games.
4. The officiating was all over the place in this game. I hated the penalty on Nichushkin. It was a great defensive play, similar to the one Brent Burns had on Leon Draisaitl. Where was the hold?
I also disliked Gabe Landeskog not drawing a tripping penalty moments after the Nichushkin penalty. And then Landeskog also getting tagged for cross-checking late in regulation.
5. Speaking of Nichushkin, that was a poor game for him. There’s a reason why Jared Bednar went back to Lehkonen on the top PP unit in the third. The Drew O’Connor shorthanded goal was a poor turnover from No. 13.
I’d like to see him bounce back and figure things out with Brock Nelson. That duo should be producing regularly, and I’m not sure why they’re not.
Would adding Gavin Brindley to their line help? I’d like to see it.
6. Brindley has four points in his last four games. In three of them, he has at least a point. The fourth one was the game in Vegas, where he played only four minutes before suffering a concussion.
I’d like to see him get more ice time. He deserves an opportunity with Nelson and Nichushkin for now. He’s earned it.
7. That’s two nights in a row where Burns put a puck directly on a teammate’s stick for a redirection goal. On Saturday, it was Jack Drury, and on Sunday, it was Lehkonen.
Eight points in 16 games for the 40-year-old. Not too shabby.
8. This was not a good game for Landeskog. It’s not coming easy for him right now, and his ice time is dropping because of it. And that’s fine. He needs time. I do think the slump has become a mental hurdle as much as it is him shaking off the rust of missing three years.
9. Victor Olofsson had an assist in Vancouver. He quietly has 11 points in his last nine games.
10. Quiet weekend for Necas. I’m not worried or anything. It’s just nice to point out that despite him only putting up one assist in two games, the Avs walked away with four points on 14 goals. The depth really showed up.
