The Colorado Avalanche has climbed to the top of the NHL standings with help from a deep lineup, strong goaltending and consistent effort without the puck.

Having two of the best players in the world and star power supporting them certainly helps, too. The stars showed out Thursday night.

Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist, Cale Makar had two goals and an assist, and Martin Necas chipped in with three helpers in a 6-3 win against the New York Rangers at Ball Arena. The Avs are now a league-best 14-1-5, and are just the fourth team in league history to reach 20 games played with only one regulation loss.

“They are the elite of the elite, so of course we’re happy to have them,” Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said of his club’s superstars. “We also happen to have one of the best goaltenders right now.

“We’re fortunate to have a lot of good players on this team, and everybody’s fully bought into what we’re trying to do. That makes a big difference for sure.”

Scott Wedgewood made 15 saves for his league-leading 12th win, including two massive saves during the hectic part of the third period when the Avs eventually grabbed the lead for good. It’s now seven wins in a row for the team.

The white-hot start has produced some impressive statistical superlatives. Colorado’s goal differential (plus-36) is more than double any other team. The Avs’ goal differential during this winning streak alone (plus-20) would be the best in the NHL.

“I think that’s leadership,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s the focus of the whole entire group, but if we get off track or things aren’t going the way we want them to go, the leadership group has done a nice job of getting guys back and focusing on the right things.”

MacKinnon’s second goal of the night put the Avs in front 4-3 one shift after the Rangers had tied the score. He backhanded the rebound of a Makar shot past Igor Shesterkin at 10:48 of the third period.

It was his league-leading 16th goal, and the three points give him 36 to lead the NHL scoring race as well.

J.T. Miller had temporarily brought New York level with his second power-play goal of the night, a tip of Adam Fox’s point shot 30 seconds before the MacKinnon goal.

Brock Nelson gave Colorado its first lead of the night early in the third period. His wrist shot at 2:36 came during a bad Rangers change and gave the Avs’ second power-play unit a rare goal. It was Nelson’s sixth of the season, and his 20th career goal against the Rangers.

Nelson has three goals and six points in the past four games, shaking off a slow start to join the production party.

The Rangers scored one of the prettiest power-play goals of the NHL season to grab an early lead. Four of the five skaters on the ice teamed up to ping the puck around the offensive zone in the shape of a baseball diamond before Miller deflected a Miika Zibanejad shot-pass at the edge of the crease.

It was the eighth time this season the Avs have surrendered the first goal of the game. They are now 5-0-3 when the opponent takes a 1-0 lead, which is a 133-point pace over 82 games.

“I think right now we are a resilient group,” Makar said. “We are finding ways to win … it’s exciting right now.”

MacKinnon evened the score in the final minute of the first. He was near the right post to clean up the rebound of Necas’ shot with 27 seconds left.

It was MacKinnon’s 1,049th career point, which put him into second place in franchise history, one ahead of Peter Stastny. Next up is Joe Sakic, who has 1,641.

“You’re used to it, and honestly you’re just blessed to get to watch it on a daily basis,” Landeskog said. “Don’t take it for granted. It’s not normal everywhere. We have very elite players fully bought into what we’re trying to do.”

New York grabbed the lead early in the second period as well. Braden Schneider’s outlet pass helped the Rangers transition into a quick counterattack and caught the Avs out of position. Adam Edstrom redirected Sam Carrick’s pass from the right wing at the edge of the crease for his first goal of the season at 3:58 in the middle period.

The rest of the second was all Avalanche. Colorado finished the period with a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal. Makar brought the Avs level again with 2:45 remaining.

Jack Drury made a great defensive play to interrupt a Rangers rush chance. MacKinnon picked up the puck and carried it to the other end before a drop pass to Necas. He found Makar cutting to the net on the right side, and the reigning Norris Trophy winner beat Shesterkin with a wraparound goal.

“I like our team,” Landeskog said. “I like the way we are playing. I like the fact that we’re able to find different ways to win hockey games. We have different people stepping up every night. It’s not always pretty, not always perfect, but I think we’re continuing to polish our game and make sure our consistency, our effort is always there.”

Footnotes: Avs rookie Gavin Brindley left the game midway through the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. He took just four shifts in the game. Bednar said Brindley will be re-evaluated Friday. The Avs are already without Valeri Nichushkin, Logan O’Connor and Joel Kiviranta up front, which led to rookie Tristen Nielsen playing in his second NHL game. … Ross Colton tacked on an empty-netter at the end of the game.

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