In the first of two meetings between the two clubs, it was the Avalanche who came out on top on Saturday.
Colorado closed out its four-game road trip and played its third game in four days by dominating the Red Wings 5-0 at Little Caesars Arena. The two teams will meet again at Ball Arena on Monday night.
“Everyone played well, just more consistent in the detail of the game, the competitiveness of the game,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “Solid effort from our goaltender straight out all the way through our lineup.”
Unlike in the two prior games, the Avs got on the board first, controlled play, and didn’t cough up the puck as often. Their power play looked dangerous, though they didn’t score on the man advantage. The penalty kill was a success, especially in the first period. And Nathan MacKinnon had one of those performances where he would not be denied.
Mackenzie Blackwood faced 28 shots and stopped every single one, earning his third shutout of the season. The Avalanche were 2-2-o on their road trip, which began and ended with victories.
“It was good to get a lead and not be chasing the game,” MacKinnon said.
Most notably, Bednar’s club did all of this without Martin Necas, who was a late scratch due to to an injury he sustained in the game against Montreal.
“Day to day, lower body,” Bednar said.
MacKinnon had two goals and an assist to lead the way. Brent Burns and Ross Colton also scored for the Avs, who improved to 36-8-9 on the season. This was their final road game before the Olympic break.
Artturi Lehkonen also had two assists. He and Valeri Nichushkin played on MacKinnon’s line without Necas available.
“I’m used to playing with two lefties my whole career. So when I pull up on my One-T side, I have two one-time options, it’s nice,” MacKinnon said. “Obviously, two net presence players. It’s definitely a great forechecking line. We had some really good fore-checks, turned some pucks over, and that’s why I scored my second one.”
The Avs got the scoring started relatively early. After a few solid shifts from Detroit off the opening puck drop, Burns got a pass from MacKinnon and fired it short side over goalie John Gibson’s glove. Burns’ ninth of the year at 6:44 was also MacKinnon’s 699th career helper.
The Avalanche added another before the break. Just as they finished a second successful PK, MacKinnon’s line started to move the puck. MacKinnon received a pass from Lehkonen and began dancing just above the circles in the offensive zone to gain separation from the Red Wings’ forecheckers. He pivoted and fired a wrist shot past Gibson with Nichushkin screening the goalie to make it 2-0 at 10:03.
The goals kept coming in the middle frame. At 1:24, Colton got his second in two games. The Avs cycled the puck to Brock Nelson behind the net, and he found Colton between the hashmarks for an easy setup.
MacKinnon eventually added his second, scoring a one-timer from the right circle off yet another setup from Lehkonen.
The Wings pulled Gibson after 40 minutes. He let in four goals on 17 shots, suffering just his fourth regulation loss since Dec. 1.
Cam Talbot replaced him and let in one goal on four third-period shots from the Avs. It was Kelly, recording his 12th of the season, at 7:35 to open a five-goal lead.
Good: Starting on Time
The Avs spent far too much of the last two games trying to erase deficits. One goal, two goals, sometimes three-plus goal deficits that caused them to overplay their top stars, play risky hockey, and try to force plays.
They didn’t want to chase against the Wings. Detroit had control and some good looks during its first few shifts, but the Burns goal settled things for the Avs, and they took off from there.
Bad: MacKinnon Misses His Mark For a Hat Trick
I’m not sure if the word “bad” is the right one to use in this case. Because this isn’t by any means a negative of the Avs’ play. But it was a bummer for MacKinnon.
During the third period, the Avs were cycling and getting looks to build on their lead. MacKinnon ended up with the puck, with a wide-open night, but shot it wide. He put his hands up to his head in disbelief while the play was ongoing.
It would’ve secured another hat trick for the Avs’ top center. Still, his two goals were Nos. 39 and 40 on the season. MacKinnon is the first player to reach 40 goals, giving him a six-goal cushion on Connor McDavid and 10+ on the rest of the league.
