Nathan MacKinnon just kicked off the season with an absolute statement, bagging two goals and throwing down in a rare fight as the Colorado Avalanche blasted the Los Angeles Kings 8-4 on Wednesday night. If you thought MacKinnon was just a scorer, you’ve got another thing coming, because he was out there doing it all.
MacKinnon’s Explosive Night: Goals, Fists, and a Statement
Seriously, what a start for the 2024 MVP. MacKinnon was electric, especially in that four-goal second period for the Avs. He ripped one home on a 5-on-3 just 23 seconds into the second, then gave Colorado a solid 4-2 lead with his second goal at 8:33. This is the guy who had a career-high 53 goals last season, so the scoring isn’t a shocker. But then, late in the third, with the Avs already up 6-4, MacKinnon decided to drop the gloves with Kings defenseman Brandt Clark. His last fight was four years ago, so yeah, it was rare. You gotta wonder if he was sending a message early in the season, right? Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog scored less than a minute after the scrap, and Artturi Lehkonen sealed the deal with his second goal just over a minute later. Talk about momentum shifts!
Avs Dominate, Coach Locked Up
The Avs didn’t just win, they put up a huge number: 8-4. They absolutely capitalized on the power play, scoring four times, though they did give up two short-handed goals. Beyond MacKinnon’s heroics, Artturi Lehkonen also bagged two goals, and Brock Nelson chipped in with a goal and two assists. Mackenzie Blackwood was solid in net, making 26 saves. The Kings saw goals from Trevor Moore, Joel Armia, Brian Dumoulin, and Artemi Panarin, but it wasn’t enough, with Darcy Kuemper stopping 21 shots. And get this: hours before the game, Colorado coach Jared Bednar got a four-year contract extension! Avs president and general manager Joe Sakic said he didn’t want Bednar to go through the year with “distractions” about his future, especially after being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference finals last spring. Bednar led them to the 2022 Stanley Cup, so locking him up seems like a smart move to keep the focus purely on the ice.
The Kings are heading to San Jose on Saturday night to try and rebound. The Avalanche, meanwhile, are hosting St. Louis on Saturday night. If MacKinnon keeps playing like this, the Avs are going to be a problem for every team in the league.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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