Colorado's elite forward earned four points and extended his consecutive point streak to 15 games.
Colorado's elite forward earned four points and extended his consecutive point streak to 15 games.
Nathan MacKinnon had his first four-point game and his 16th multi-point game of the season in the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks.
MacKinnon has scored at least a point in each of the 16 home games this season. He is just one short of tying the longest season-opening home point streak in franchise history (Mats Sundin 1992-93, Peter Stastny 1980-81). He also extended his point streak to 15 consecutive games which ties his career high set in 2020-21.
The 28-year-old elite center is known for his hard work ethic which is clearly shown in his numbers — not only in his consistency, but also in the quantity of his scoring chances.
"I feel very clear, I'd say. The game feels like it's slow, which is always a good, good feeling," MacKinnon said after the win. "Obviously, doing a lot of work away from the rink that no one sees, and it's paying off right now — just try to do my job and contribute."
While MacKinnon didn't want to discuss what he's doing off the ice, he exemplifies hard work on the ice. He recorded four shots on goal, two of which ended up in the back of the net.
Valeri Nichushkin and Mikko Rantanen scored power play goals in the first period. Both were assisted by MacKinnon — who now sits in second place for most assists (31) in the NHL trailing Nikita Kucherov by one.
Jonathan Drouin had a two-point night and a total of four points in the last three games. MacKinnon said his teammate "flipped a switch" around game 10 or 11 and has improved his game since.
"I just feel confidence in what I'm doing. Feel confident in how we play, I feel like I'm a part of it now where I could do my things and just play," Drouin said. "We have such a good team, so many good Ds too to get the puck out. I'm not thinking is the biggest thing — it's instinct right now. It's just playing hockey."
Ryan Johansen got on the scoresheet for the first time in three games and his first goal since Nov. 27 against the Tampa Bay Lightning midway through the third period.
Both teams racked up penalties in the matchup. Colorado was assessed four minor penalties and two misconducts, while San Jose got a major, a game misconduct, a double minor, a minor and a misconduct throughout the 60 minutes of play.
Sharks forward Tomas Hertl scored both goals which came on the man-advantage for San Jose.
Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves on 27 shots and played a solid game after sitting out the last two.
"I thought he was fantastic. I thought he was great ... I think we're kind of trying to do everything right.
"We got sloppy a couple times tonight for some five minute stretches — not often — but they created some really good looks and some difficulties and I thought he (Georgiev) was really sharp," head coach Jared Bednar said.
Cale Makar was out with a lower-body injury that Bednar said is something that's been lingering for him.
"He's got a nagging injury, lower body — we don't want to make it get worse," Bednar said. "It's the same thing that kept him out last week for a couple games or a game, and then he played so we're just trying to be safe with that. It's not nothing serious, but we also don't want it to become serious."
The Avalanche bounced back from the 6-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets the previous night and face off against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday at the United Center.
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