Nathan MacKinnon
Jan. 15-21, 2018
4-2–6 over 3 GP
Tied for league-high in goals
Extended a 9-game point streak
Nathan MacKinnon is heading to his second NHL career All-Star Game appearance, well, looking like an All-Star.
MacKinnon showed just how valuable he is to the Colorado Avalanche’s success – with the forward and the team enjoying parallel scoring and win streaks.
The six-foot, 205-pound centreman tallied two game-winners as part of a six-point week to help guide the Avalanche to a trio of wins, and their ninth straight victory, while extendingg his own personal point streak to 19 points over nine games.
MacKinnon (4-2–6) tied for a league-high four goals over the week while his six points placed him in a tie for second in the category.
The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native kicked off his week by putting away the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory over the visiting Anaheim Ducks. The goal came on the heels of a spectacular sprawling save by teammate Jonathan Bernier on an attempt by Ryan Kesler, before MacKinnon went the other way to help the Avalanche win their sixth in a row on home ice.
"For us, it's so tight, we can't get comfortable," MacKinnon, who was named the game's third star, told reporters postgame. "Our division, I think we're eight games over .500, we might still be in last place. It's crazy. We still have 39 games left, so we have to stay hungry."
Thursday night, MacKinnon scored a pair of goals and an assist while netting the game's first star honours as the Avs pulled off a 5-3 win with the San Jose Sharks in town to earn the club's eighth consecutive victory. MacKinnon's goals lit the lamp just 58 seconds apart while he registered five shots on goals over 18:13 of ice time.
Colorado continued their winning ways at home with a 3-1 triumph over the New York Rangers Saturday night for the club's ninth consecutive win – marking the second-longest streak in the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history. MacKinnon scored his 23rd goal and notched his 36th helper of the season to give him 59 points so far this season, which places the forward second in overall 2017-18 league scoring. The 22-year-old is just one goal and four points away from matching career-highs set in his Calder Memorial Trophy-winning rookie season.
MacKinnon and the Avalanche look to build off their successful homestand on the road when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs Monday night at Air Canada Centre. The Avs will have to win three more games to match the franchise record of 12 straight wins, set Jan. 10-Feb. 7, 1999.
Complete listing of the 2017-18 NHLPA.com Players of the Week here
