The SAP Center is not a happy place for the Colorado Avalanche. Before Sunday night’s clash with the San Jose Sharks they hadn’t won a regular season game there since 2015 and the less said about last season’s game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs the better. With that hanging over the Avalanche players you could understand if heads dropped when Joe Thornton scored his 420th NHL goal on the power-play 11:16 into the first period. Yes I know, the fact it was his 420th and that it was Colorado the jokes are too easy so just insert your own here.
Then Nathan MacKinnon happened. I mean he REALLY happened. Tying the game with his own Power-Play Goal (PPG) with 3:43 remaining in the first. One of the concerns with Nazem Kadri out injured was that teams could focus solely on stopping MacKinnon. Hence the recent slump that saw him go seven games without a goal. Well I don’t know if the Sharks are bad or just checked out with their season all but over, however, when you give the Avalanche a Power-Play it’s best not to leave MacKinnon with time and space at the face-off circles. He WILL hurt you. And did.
MacKinnon with the 💥 one-timer! #GoAvsGo https://t.co/ZG3nda36oW
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 9, 2020
But the Man, the Myth, the Legend wasn’t finished yet and 1:59 into the second period he picked up a pass from Vladislav Namestnikov after the Sharks turned over the puck in the neutral zone. He took off, slid the puck under Radim Simek’s legs (the man has a family Nate!!) and put a shot on net. Martin Jones was able to get a pad to it but was unable to stop the follow up from captain Gabriel Landeskog to make it 2-1.
Landeskog cleans up the rebound! #GoAvsGo https://t.co/Z0kYJGHpVJ
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 9, 2020
The Sharks didn’t give up though and less than two minutes later it was tied up again. Kevin Connauton’s shot was blocked and the Sharks were able to get a break-away which Melker Karlsson was able to finish cooly.
This only made MacKinnon mad and if there’s one thing you don’t want it’s a mad Nathan MacKinnon playing against you. So with 8:41 gone in the second MacKinnon recorded his third point of the night and 93rd of the season with a secondary assist on a goal by Vladislav Namestnikov. He won the face-off in his own zone against Evander Kane, then later in the play picked up the loose puck before picking out Landeskog who found Namestnikov for a calm finish.
9️⃣2️⃣ to 9️⃣0️⃣#GoAvsGo https://t.co/VVcvvUSKD9
— x – Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 9, 2020
When he’s playing like this I honestly don’t think there is a defense that can stop him.
If I wasn’t hooked on Hockey before, I am now!
Former Shark Joonas Donskoi made it 4-2 in the third period before San Jose scored with 44 seconds remaining to make it 4-3 and ensure it was a nervy end for Avalanche fans everywhere. Regardless of the final score what is important at this point in the season is two points as the Av’s look to take the top spot in the Central Division from the St Louis Blues. Having MacKinnon playing like this is just an added bonus.
