Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon can make history on any given night.
And he did it again in the Avs season opener on Tuesday evening in Los Angeles.
MacKinnon had two points, both assists, but it was his first one that set a record. With his 1,016th career point, all in a Colorado sweater, MacKinnon became the all-time points leader in Avalanche history.
He passed the legendary Joe Sakic, who had 1,015 career points while calling Denver home. Sakic is still the franchise leader with 1,641 career points, spending the first seven years of his NHL tenure with the Quebec Nordiques. The franchise moved to Colorado before the 1995-96 season.
Nathan MacKinnon got the record by showing off his blazing speed, setting up Martin Necas for the first goal of the contest.
Call it a connection. pic.twitter.com/MNaVIW58c5
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) October 8, 2025
That opened the floodgates, as the Avalanche would get two more goals in the second period to take a 3-0 lead. They’d go on to secure a 4-1 victory, earning their first two points of the young 2025-26 NHL campaign.
Defenseman Sam Malinski and forward Artturi Lehkonen also found the back of the net in the frame. Lehkonen was in the perfect position after Cale Makar danced his way into the Kings zone, showing off his human highlight reel skills.
Necas added his second tally as the Avalanche mostly dominated Los Angeles over the final 40 minutes. The Kings finally got on the board with 4:53 to go, but the outcome wasn’t in doubt.
The result was all set up by a first period that was fairly even with not a ton of great chances, until fireworks at the very end.
Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson blew up L.A. winger Warren Foegele with a perfectly legal hockey hit. It was massive, but Manson did everything by the book.
However, little known Kings player Jeff Malott took exception, and instigated Manson in a fight. He was slapped with a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, while both he and Manson got five minutes for fighting. The frame ended tied 0-0, but the intensity picked up.
The Avalanche seemingly used that moment as fuel, and Nathan MacKinnon helped lead the way. He was also credited with an assist on the Lehkonen goal.
Also of note in the opener was captain Gabriel Landeskog playing his first regular season game in more than 3.5 years. He returned for the Avs in the playoffs last season, skating in five contests after multiple knee surgeries, but this was another milestone.
Backup goalie Scott Wedgewood was a brick wall, posting 24 saves and allowing only one goal. He’ll be the guy between the pipes until starter Mackenzie Blackwood is ready to return from injury. Wedgewood certainly looked up for the task, even with the Kings pressing late as things got a little chippy in a penalty filled third period.
It’s one of 82 games for Colorado, but it was a brilliant beginning in another Stanley-Cup-or-bust type year. And you can bet Nathan MacKinnon will set plenty more records this season and beyond.
