Nathan MacKinnon remains the leading candidate for the NHL MVP Hart Trophy, though the gap has narrowed with Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini closing in. MacKinnon's exceptional play has significantly contributed to the Colorado Avalanche's top standing in the league, with him leading in goals, points, and even-strength metrics. The race is tight with less than half the season remaining, but MacKinnon still holds a slight edge.
The Colorado Avalanche, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin, face the Carolina Hurricanes in a regular-season NHL game, with Colorado aiming to extend its winning streak and both teams looking to improve their standings after recent losses.
The NHL features five games with key matchups including rookie defensemen Buium and Schaefer facing off, MacKinnon aiming to extend his point streak, a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Final between the Panthers and Hurricanes, the Stars' strong road performance, and Schmaltz leading Utah in the absence of Cooley.
The Colorado Avalanche dominated the first period against the Nashville Predators, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring three goals to secure a 5-4 win. Despite a flat second period, coach Jared Bednar has done an impressive job leading the team through injuries and lost talent this season, making him a contender for the Jack Adams trophy. The Avalanche will face the Seattle Kraken in the playoffs, which promises to be a fun and fresh matchup. Defenseman Sam Girard had a strong game, and the team will welcome back Cale Makar and Josh Manson for the playoffs. However, defenseman Kurtis MacDermid's penalty-taking remains a concern, and goaltender Alexandar Georgiev had an off night.
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the San Jose Sharks in a thrilling overtime game, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring the game-winning goal. While defenseman Jack Johnson had a strong performance, the rest of the defense struggled and penalties were a problem. The Avalanche are now headed to the playoffs for the sixth year in a row, but are sitting defenseman Cale Makar for maintenance. Despite wanting to secure the first spot in the playoffs, the team is prioritizing Makar's health for the postseason.
