MacKinnon reaches 30-goal mark, Avs beat Red Wings 6-3
DENVER • Nathan MacKinnon doesn’t have to dig too deep to find a reason why he scores so much.
“I shoot a lot of pucks,” the Colorado All-Star forward said.
Shoot, it’s really not that easy.
MacKinnon scored twice to reach the 30-goal mark for a third straight season and the Avalanche beat the reeling Detroit Red Wings 6-3 on Monday.
The speedy forward joined Hall of Famer Joe Sakic as the only Avalanche players to record three straight seasons with at least 30 goals since the team relocated to Denver in 1995.
“I have a lot of help and it’s nice to be on a really good team,” MacKinnon said. “I think that makes it easy.”
He wasn’t the only one reaching a milestone. With a two-assist afternoon, Cale Makar has 37 points this season, which ties him with Bruce Bell for the Colorado/Quebec record for a rookie defenseman. Bell set his mark in 1984-85 with the Nordiques.
Nazem Kadri and MacKinnon scored 1:54 apart as the Avalanche were propelled by another second-period spurt. They also pulled away from the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues with a middle-period flurry over the weekend.
Leading 2-1 early in the third, Kadri helped Colorado put the game out of reach when he and Matt Nieto scored within 53 seconds of each other. Ryan Graves added another goal late in the third and MacKinnon knocked in an empty-netter for his 30th.
The win allowed the Avalanche to finish their homestand at 3-0-2. They won’t play until Feb. 1 due to the All-Star break and a bye week.
Pavel Francouz stopped 22 shots for Colorado.
Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin and Givani Smith scored for Detroit, which has dropped five in a row (0-4-1). Larkin also had two assists.
Jimmy Howard made 40 saves in falling to 2-18-2.
The Avalanche had 10 players with at least a point.
“The story about our team this year is having that depth, having other guys step up on any given night,” said Kadri, who also had an assist. “That’s what makes us such a hard team to play against.”
It was a penalty-marred opening period, with both teams drawing double-minor, high-sticking calls. Colorado’s power play extended into the second period and Kadri scored the tying goal when he tipped in a shot from Makar.
Makar then assisted on MacKinnon’s goal by skating around before sending a pass down low to a wide-open MacKinnon.
“I remember three years ago coming in here playing against these guys, they didn’t look like they wanted to play,” Larkin said. “Look at what they’ve done with their top line and Makar is one heck of a player. I find these guys right now a real team, and they’re contenders and the most dynamic team we’ve played against.”
Colorado right wing Valeri Nichushkin, front, reaches out to collect the puck as Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin defends in the third period Monday in Denver. The Avalanche won 6-3.
Colorado center Tyson Jost, right, collects the puck as Detroit Red Wings right wing Filip Zadina defends in the third period Monday in Denver. The Avalanche won 6-3.
Detroit Red Wings center Robby Fabbri, left, drives past Colorado defenseman Cale Makar in the second period Monday in Denver.
Colorado center Nazem Kadri is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal as Detroit Red Wings defenseman Filip Hronek looks on in the second period Monday in Denver.
