ST. PAUL, Minn. – Nathan MacKinnon contributed significantly to the Colorado Avalanche’s impressive 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, scoring one goal while also recording his league-leading 53rd assist for the season.
Mikko Rantanen and Logan O’Connor both had standout performances with a goal and an assist each. Ross Colton, Parker Kelly, and Artturi Lehkonen also found the back of the net, while goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves to secure the win.
The Wild’s lone goal came from Zach Bogosian, who scored for the second consecutive game. Filip Gustavsson was in goal for Minnesota and managed to stop 21 of 27 shots fired at him.
With the Avalanche leading 2-1 during the second period, MacKinnon executed a slick pass in the slot during a 2-on-2 sprint, which Rantanen finished off with a wrist shot that beat a screened Gustavsson, marking his 25th goal of the season. Rantanen later returned the favor, assisting MacKinnon as he scored Colorado’s third goal in a flurry of offense that saw three goals netted in just 4 minutes and 25 seconds during the third period, pushing the Avalanche ahead 6-1.
Takeaways from the game include Colorado regaining its momentum after a recent 7-0-1 streak was thwarted by a loss in Chicago the previous night. The Avalanche clearly outperformed a depleted Wild squad, which was missing several key players.
Despite their injuries, including the absence of leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov and their top three defensemen, the Wild had previously done well, posting a record of 6-0-1 in their last seven games. However, they struggled against the Avalanche, limiting their offensive chances to just 12 shots on goal during the first two periods of play.
A pivotal moment occurred late in the first period when Minnesota defenseman Declan Chisholm mishandled a pass while stationed behind his net. This error allowed Ross Colton to pounce on the loose puck, resulting in an easy tap-in goal past Gustavsson.
Another interesting note is that both teams entered the match with some of the league’s least effective penalty-killing units, ranked 29th and 23rd respectively. Yet, remarkably, each side managed to kill all three penalty opportunities they faced during the game.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Saturday. The Avalanche will travel to Winnipeg, while the Wild will face off against the San Jose Sharks.