Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon was named the NHL’s most valuable player for the first time on Thursday night. Here are his top-five moments from an MVP season.
5. “That’s another league”
When/where: Jan. 13, Scotiabank Arena
The Avs didn’t have Valeri Nichushkin or Artturi Lehkonen and were down by three goals in Toronto. No problem. Nathan MacKinnon scored the game-winner with 3:25 left, capping a dominant overall performance against fellow MVP candidate Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs. After the game, now-formerLeafs coach Sheldon Keefe said, “When MacKinnon’s line gets out there with (Cale) Makar and (Devon) Toews, the caliber of play, like that’s not the NHL. That’s another league.”
4. The first Colorado four-pack
When/where: Dec. 21, Ball Arena
Two days after Devon Toews had some harsh criticism for his teammates following a seventh loss in 11 games, the Avs were trailing the lowly Ottawa Senators after two periods. Enter MacKinnon, who scored the game-tying goal, assisted on the winner and netted his fourth goal of the game, a first in the club’s history since moving to Denver, to help Colorado collect a 6-4 win.
3. Ain’t over ’til it’s over
When/where: March 16, Rogers Place
Two of the league’s best teams didn’t meet until late in the season, and then they delivered the game of the regular season in the NHL. The Avs and the Edmonton Oilers played at an incredible pace for 60 minutes, but MacKinnon delivered the biggest moment. He won a race against Evan Bouchard to a puck in the corner, kicked the puck to his stick and fired a perfect backhanded pass to Lehkonen, who scored on a one-timer with one second left to deliver a 3-2 victory.
2. The “Bra Trick” game
When/where: Jan. 24, Ball Arena
MacKinnon had the first four-goal game for the franchise in Colorado, then did it again 34 days later. He had the club’s first natural hat trick since Joe Sakic had one in 2003 and established a new franchise record with at least one point in 24 straight home games, surpassing a Sakic streak. When he added a fourth goal late, a bra and pair of women’s underwear ended up on the ice along with a smattering of extra hats, and a new hockey term was born.
1. The masterpiece
When/where: April 9, Ball Arena
Minnesota was 10th in the league in goals against per game since John Hynes took over as coach during the season. The Wild needed a win to remain in playoff contention. MacKinnon eviscerated them, with three breakaway goals — all of which started with a Wild defender in between him and the goalie before he blew past one (or more) guys in a visiting jersey. He scored his 50th goal during the game. It was his closing statement in a season full of incredible performances.
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Originally Published: June 27, 2024 at 5:59 p.m.
