The first team to reach 60 points is a significant accomplishment. But doing so by sweeping the Anaheim Ducks over a weekend where it acquired a backup goalie and your now third-stringer was exceptional in both games on the road makes it more impressive.
The Avalanche turned to Jonas Johansson in goal for the second consecutive game Sunday and used newly acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk as the backup on their way to a 4-1 victory over Anaheim at Honda Center.
Colorado (28-9-4, 60 points) is the Presidents’ Trophy leader with just 15 remaining games, surpassing the Toronto Maple Leafs (28-10-3, 59 points) for the NHL’s most points.
“To be in a position where we’re fighting for the Presidents’ Trophy I think is great,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “It just goes to show you the work these guys have put in and the commitment they’ve had to our game and the buy-in that we’ve been getting.”
Johansson made 24 saves, surrendering just one goal midway through the third period when Colorado led 2-0. But goals from defenseman Ryan Graves and superstar center Nathan MacKinnon put the game out of reach for the lowly Ducks (12-23-7).
Colorado outshot the Ducks 15-7 in the first period and took a 1-0 lead on a goal from winger Andre Burakovsky. Ducks goalie John Gibson was outstanding in keeping it a close game.
But Colorado found itself on a lengthy 5-on-3 power play in the second and used it to build a multi-goal lead. MacKinnon took a point shot with just 10 seconds remaining on the initial minor and Avs captain Gabe Landeskog tipped it in to make it 2-0.
The 10-year NHL veteran also recorded two assists to reach 40 points in 2021 and 500 in his career. He is just the fifth player in Avalanche history to reach 500 points.
MacKinnon’s two-point night gave him 50 points on the season and extended his point streak to nine games, the longest active streak in the NHL.
Along with winger Mikko Rantanen (48 points), the Avalanche are the first team to have three players with 40 points or more.
“I just think he’s starting to dial up his 200-foot game and he’s making plays,” Bednar said of MacKinnon, who has an NHL-leading 25 points in his last 15 games. “Tonight he went to the net hard and he gets rewarded at the end of the game. Makes some nice plays on the power play moving it around.”
Johansson improved to 3-1 with the Avs in five appearances — including a personal three-game winning streak. Johansson has a .929 save percentage since being acquired from Buffalo on March 20.
The Avalanche are turning back to starting goalie Philipp Grubauer on Monday against Arizona at Ball Arena after a successful 3-1 road trip.
Grubauer was given the night off as a healthy scratch for the first time this season. With Dubnyk’s arrival, Johansson’s resurgence and Grubauer’s Vezina Trophy-quality season, the Avalanche suddenly are solid at a position they’ve had questions surrounding since the season began.
“Getting Grubi some much-needed rest and have J.J. keep growing and developing with our team, I’m pretty happy with the road trip,” Bednar said.