The Colorado Avalanche has climbed to the top of the NHL standings with help from a deep lineup, strong goaltending and consistent effort without the puck.
Having two of the best players in the world and star power supporting them certainly helps, too. The stars showed out Thursday night.
Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist, Cale Makar had two goals and an assist, and Martin Necas chipped in with three helpers in a 6-3 win against the New York Rangers at Ball Arena. The Avs are now a league-best 14-1-5, and are just the fourth team in league history to reach 20 games played with only one regulation loss.
Scott Wedgewood made 15 saves for his league-leading 12th win, including two massive saves during the hectic part of the third period when the Avs eventually grabbed the lead for good.
MacKinnon’s second goal of the night put the Avs in front 4-3 one shift after the Rangers had tied the score. He backhanded the rebound of a Makar shot past Igor Shesterkin at 10:48 of the third period.
It was his league-leading 16th goal, and the three points give him 36 to lead the NHL scoring race as well.
J.T. Miller had temporarily brought New York level with his second power-play goal of the night, a tip of Adam Fox’s point shot 30 seconds before the MacKinnon goal.
Brock Nelson gave Colorado its first lead of the night early in the third period. His wrist shot at 2:36 came during a bad Rangers change and gave the Avs’ second power-play unit a rare goal. It was Nelson’s sixth of the season, and his 20th career goal against the Rangers.
The Rangers scored one of the prettiest power-play goals of the NHL season to grab an early lead. Four of the five skaters on the ice teamed up to ping the puck around the offensive zone in the shape of a baseball diamond.
Vincent Trocheck sent the puck from the left flank to Fox at the top of the zone. He passed to Miika Zibanejad at the right flank, and the Swede’s one-touch shot-pass connected with Miller at the edge of the crease for an easy deflection into the net at 2:26 of the opening period.
It was the eighth time this season the Avs have surrendered the first goal of the game. They were 4-0-3 when trailing first before Thursday night.
MacKinnon evened the score in the final minute of the first. He was near the right post to clean up the rebound of Necas’ shot with 27 seconds left.
It was MacKinnon’s 1,049th career point, which put him into second place in franchise history, one ahead of Peter Stastny. Next up is Joe Sakic, who has 1,641.
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The rest of the second was all Avalanche. Colorado finished the period with a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal. Makar brought the Avs level again with 2:45 remaining.
Jack Drury made a great defensive play to interrupt a Rangers rush chance. MacKinnon picked up the puck and carried it to the other end before a drop pass to Necas. He found Makar cutting to the net on the right side, and the reigning Norris Trophy winner beat Shesterkin with a wraparound goal.
Footnotes: Avs rookie Gavin Brindley left the game midway through the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. He took just four shifts in the game. The Avs are already without Valeri Nichushkin, Logan O’Connor and Joel Kiviranta up front, which led to rookie Tristen Nielsen playing in his second NHL game. … Ross Colton tacked on an empty-netter at the end of the game.
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