The Colorado Avalanche are yet to say their last word in the National Hockey League (NHL) Western Conference race, and their forward Nathan MacKinnon has shown all his talent on the ice to help him gain ground.
• Also read: “It was a pathetic effort on our part”
• Also read: Interim Report in the East
After an ugly seven-in-eight losing streak, the defending Stanley Cup champions have won their last two encounters in convincing fashion. After torpedoing the Ottawa Senators 7-0 on Saturday, the Avs doubled the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 to move just four points to a playoff spot.
Head coach Jared Bednar’s side have some reasons to be optimistic. Former Montreal Canadiens Artturi Lehkonen is having a great season, recording 30 points in 39 games. However, the presence of a healthy MacKinnon in training is essential.
Recovering from an upper-body injury that kept him out for a few weeks in December, he’s sailing in a run of five duels with at least a point: he scored ten, scored three and had seven assists. On Monday he had a great performance with two goals and as many assists.
“Obviously we didn’t play well, but it seemed like anything that could end badly would end that way. We’ve turned the steam around and it’s about two big victories,” he commented to the media of having played more than 25 minutes in three clashes since the start of the calendar year.
“For many strikers, 25 to 26 minutes is enormous. I think I’m ready for that, I’m trying to take care of myself to be ready to play as much as I need to,” he added.
A combination that works
Currently, MacKinnon is in full swing within a trio completed by Lehkonen and Evan Rodrigues. The latter’s presence pleases him in the highest degree.
“He has an excellent view of the game, of course I didn’t know that because I had never played with him. He makes a lot of small plays that aren’t the most spectacular, but are still very important for controlling the puck and building effective chemistry. It’s nice to play with a smart guy with a good shot down the right flank. I’ve never had a right-hander in my company in my career and it’s comfortable,” he said, as reported by website coloradohockeynow.com.
Colorado will visit the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, one of two teams with a draft bye in the west.