From an unprecedented weekend to a milestone for the NHL’s points leader, the Colorado Avalanche have changed the franchise history books in their last three matchups.
The Avs became the fourth team in NHL history to have one regulation loss or fewer through the first 20 games of the season with their 6-3 win over the New York Rangers. They joined the 2012-13 Blackhawks (17-0-3), 1979-80 Flyers (16-1-3), and 1927-28 Canadiens (15-1-4).
In his 890th career game on Thursday night, Nathan MacKinnon scored his 1,049th point and now sits in the No. 2 spot for most franchise points. He ousted Peter Stastny, who had 1,048 points in 737 career games with the Quebec Nordiques. The 30-year-old superstar now trails Joe Sakic, who holds the franchise record with 1,641 in 1,378 career games.
“He’s had a good, long career here already. So you’d expect him to be near the top, but to get to second already at this point, with so much hockey left to play for him,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “Not just because of his ability, but because of the way he takes care of himself, the way he can skate. He’s got a long career ahead of him, hopefully longer than what he’s already put in. It could be pretty impressive when you look back on it. Good spot where he’s at right now, and I expect that to probably keep climbing.”
With back-to-back wins over the weekend, the Avs now hold the longest current win streak (9) in the League this season. The team is fourth in franchise history for longest win streaks, according to the team’s VP of Media Relations, and can slide into a three-way tie for second with a win on Wednesday.
The Avs’ weekend wins were shutouts, which was a first in franchise history. No other Nordiques or Avalanche team earned back-to-back shutouts before Mackenzie Blackwood’s 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday and Scott Wedgewood’s 1-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
Colorado has nine wins this month, which ties the franchise record — November 2003-04 (9-3-2-1), 2023-24 (9-4-1) and 2013-14 (9-5-0) — and there are three games left to play.
The Avs continue to win games and sit atop the League with 37 points — seven more than the No. 2 seed. They have found ways to win on their worst nights, but have another level. It may not be as much of a grind to get two points when Val Nichushkin, Gavin Brindley, Logan O’Connor and Joel Kiviranta return to the lineup.