The Colorado Avalanche entered the 2022-23 season as Stanley Cup Champions, but this year looks vastly different than we wanted. With our injury-plagued roster, the Avs have been passengers on the struggle bus since the first puck dropped in October. After a dominant regular season and sweeping two series in the run to the Cup, watching the Avs' inconsistent performance this year has been jarring, to put it politely.
Despite the adversity, the Avs have clinched a playoff spot and are still in contention for winning the division. It takes a team to win the game, but only one player gets the game-winning goal. On April 4th, Nathan MacKinnon scored the overtime goal for his first career 100-point season; the next game, Mikko Rantanen scored his 50, 51, and 52nd goals of the year. In the first five games of April, Mikko and Mac have a combined 26 points. Two of our star players have career-high years, and without their superpower (and superior goaltending by Georgiev), the Avs’ playoff prospects might not be as hopeful.
Nathan MacKinnon, 27, is in his tenth year in an Avalanche uniform and had three consecutive 90+ point seasons between 2017-2020, but transitioning to triple digits remained elusive until last week at the Shark Tank. MacKinnon scored the game-winning overtime goal in classic MacKinnon fashion: sailing past his opponents and sinking the puck behind the netminder, and claimed his 100th point. MacKinnon is the first player to rack up 100 points since Joe Sakic in 2006-07, and the sixth time in Avalanche history, with only Peter the Great and Super Joe hitting the century mark before. MacKinnon missed several games due to injury and joined the 100-point club in 65 games, fewer games than Forsberg and Sakic played to reach the milestone.
Not unsurprisingly, MacKinnon dismissed his achievement, noting that he was glad to have reached it so that the chatter would stop. He won’t sing his praise, but I will. MacKinnon missed 11 games in December, and since his return has been explosive. The Mac Attack is real, and it’s not an overdose of Big Macs but the speed and ferocity of one of the fastest and most lethal players in the league. When MacKinnon ignites, it’s like a driver in Mario Cart hitting the mushroom for a super burst of speed. In the past 30 games, MacKinnon has scored 26 goals and 28 assists for 54 points. Natty Mac is playing at the top of his game, and boy, are we fortunate to witness it.
MacKinnon reaching 100 points is great, but it isn’t unexpected; it was due. On the other hand, Mikko Rantanen carried the team through injuries and has had a breakout season, scoring his 50th goal of the season in the game following MacKinnon’s feat. He is the first Avalanche player in 20 years to reach 50 goals and only the third overall. Hejduk scored 50 in 2003; before that, Sakic scored 51 (1996) and 54 (2001). He scored his 50th and rounded it out with his 51st and 52nd for a hat trick. He added two more in Anaheim and now is tied with Joe Sakic for most goals since moving to Denver. Michel Goulet holds the record at 57 goals with the Nordiques in 82-83. With three more games remaining, he could surpass the great Goulet. Mikko is the third Finish-born player to achieve a 50-goal season, with Teemu Selanne and Jari Kurri before, both who had brief stints with the Avs.
Last year, Mikko had 36 goals, and when asked about his increased productivity on the ice, he equated his success simply: shooting more. With the depth of injuries, Mikko answered the call and stepped up his game, earning a spot on the All-Star team. After another multi-point game against the Ducks, he joins his linemate in the century club. The Moose is loose.
Mikko and Mac are elite athletes; there is no question. However, what is important is that they show up in big moments. On Sunday, the Avs found themselves down two goals against the struggling Ducks. Of the four remaining games, it was the most winnable and would send the Avs to the top of the division. When the Avs went on the powerplay halfway through the third, trailing by two, it was a must-score opportunity. Mikko scored 30 seconds into the powerplay. Less than four minutes later, MacKinnon got the tying goal on another man advantage to send the game to OT. The clock ticked down, but the Ducks took another penalty, and MacKinnon scored with 44 seconds remaining. In the final 10 minutes of the game, the two combined for 7 points.
The only thing that can make Mik and Mac's duo greater is the reunion of their third top linemate: Gabriel Landeskog. With only a week left in the regular season, we are praying to the hockey gods for his return to the lineup.
The Avs mopped up on their California road trip, winning all four contests, and sit at the top of the division with 104 points. They will close out the season on Friday in Nashville. Vegas leads the Western Conference at 107 points with two games remaining. The Avs trail them by three points but have a game-in-hand, and while the standings are in flux, the Avs control their destiny.
One more week, and then the real season begins. Again.