Nice guys don’t always finish last.

T.J. Hughes scored the first goal of his NHL career Friday night at Ball Arena, a critical insurance tally in a 5-2 victory for the Colorado Avalanche over the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was the last goal of a dominant second period for the Avs.

“He is such a nice person,” Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said. “Works so hard. Just a good guy. It’s crazy how nice he is, to be honest. I wish I was that nice.”

It wasn’t officially a power-play goal, but it came just four seconds after Pittsburgh’s Ben Kindel left the penalty box and before he could rejoin the play. MacKinnon faked a like he was going to one-touch the puck as he received a pass from Cale Makar at the left flank.

Penguins’ penalty killer Bryan Rust stuck his stick out to try and prevent a potential pass to Nazem Kadri in the bumper spot. MacKinnon capitalized on Rust’s reaction and drove toward the net.

Hughes had slid over to potentially provide a screen for a MacKinnon shot, but when he saw the 2024 MVP make his move, the rookie from Michigan slyly backed away just far enough to put himself in perfect position for a tap-in. MacKinnon saw him move and backhanded the puck into a perfect spot.

“It felt really good,” Hughes said. “It was a big goal at a big time of the game. Nate gave me a great pass. I think the power play had just expired, but I thought the power play was good. We were moving it around. Nate just made a great play, and I was able to score.”

Added MacKinnon said: “It’s kind of against the grain. Got down on one knee. He looks comfortable on the goal line. I think he’s more comfortable there than in the middle. He’s a pass-first guy, so I think he’s in a good spot down there.”

Hughes earned the customary water-bottle shower from Avs captain Gabe Landeskog as he celebrated going by the Avs bench. Jaden Schwartz made sure to grab the puck for Hughes to keep.

It was the first goal in Hughes’ eighth NHL game, but he’s been close a few times before. He’s got two points in eight games, but Hughes has also been part of a productive line with Schwartz and Fedor Svechkov.

The three newcomers have all been put together on Colorado’s third line, and the results have been solid. Colorado has outscored its opponents 4-2 when those three are on the ice together. The Avs are nearly doubling up foes in shots on goal (28-15) and the trio has generated 60% of the scoring chances (30-20) in nearly 50 minutes of ice time together.

“I think it’s just communication,” Hughes said. “We talk a lot on the bench. We talk a lot in practice. Those guys are great players. (Schwartz has) the experience, the IQ, the compete, and (Svechkov) with the work, his skill — I just feel like we complement each other pretty well.”

While Hughes’ goal didn’t count as an extra-man tally, the Avs got one in the third period. MacKinnon did not fake a one-timer this time, blasting one on a feed from Makar past Pittsburgh goaltender Arturs Silvos for his sixth goal of the year and fourth point of the night.

Officially, Colorado’s power play numbers in assistant coach Brett McLean’s first game were solid: seven shots on goal and five scoring chances in 7:01 of 5-on-4 time. Toss in the Hughes goal as a spiritual PPG, and it was a strong start with a new coach and a couple of personnel tweaks.

“I thought the power play executed,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “They didn’t force things. They were patient. They made some nice plays.

“There was good buy-in from the guys. A lot of credit goes to the guys, but Brett gave them a couple things to think about without getting too in-depth, and I think that was a great approach for today.”

Hughes is a proud Michigan alum, and maybe it was fate that he scored his first NHL goal with his former teammates playing a handful of miles south of here at Magness Arena. The No. 2-ranked Wolverines defeated the No. 1-ranked University of Denver Pioneers, 4-1, on Friday night.

Both Hughes and Gavin Brindley met up with the Wolverines on Thursday.

“I saw them yesterday at the hotel,” Hughes said. “Yeah, I haven’t seen those boys in a while, so it was great to see them. Yeah, it was a little fitting for sure.”

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