The Colorado Avalanche have been on a roll not seen since their dominant 2022 Stanley Cup-winning season. Currently on track to challenge the franchise record for most points in a regular season, the Avalanche have one player to thank for their historic run.
Forward Nathan MacKinnon has been in sensational form. The center has already scored 46 points with 22 goals and 24 assists while leading both the points and goals leaderboards. His insane performances have made him an early Hart Trophy favorite. Meanwhile, Connor McDavid continues falling behind with each passing week as the Edmonton Oilers struggle.
Nathan MacKinnon’s Five-On-Five Dominance Dwarfs Connor McDavid’s Numbers
The Denver Post’s Corey Masisak highlighted the staggering contrast between MacKinnon and McDavid’s five-on-five impact this season. The advanced statistics reveal just how dominant MacKinnon has been compared to hockey’s best player.
“The Avs are outscoring the other team 37-9 when Nathan MacKinnon is on the ice at 5v5 this season. Thirty-seven to nine,” Masisak posted, emphasizing the absurd goal differential. MacKinnon has logged 400:31 of five-on-five ice time this season.
Colorado has scored 37 goals while allowing just nine during those minutes. The plus-28 goal differential at even strength represents unprecedented dominance. By comparison, McDavid’s five-on-five numbers paint a drastically different picture.
“Connor McDavid: 469:24 of ice time, 21 goals for, 25 against,” Masisak reported. McDavid has played nearly 70 more minutes at five-on-five than MacKinnon. However, the Oilers have been outscored 25-21 during their even-strength shifts.
The minus-4 goal differential highlights Edmonton’s systemic issues that even the best player in hockey cannot overcome. Masisak noted that both sets of numbers look impossible for different reasons. MacKinnon’s goal share seems too dominant to sustain.
McDavid’s negative goal differential seems impossible for a player of his caliber. The contrast extends beyond just five-on-five play. MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals and points while driving Colorado’s offense at a historic pace.
The Avalanche sit atop the league standings thanks largely to their superstar center’s brilliance. McDavid continues producing offensively with strong individual numbers. However, his impact has been diminished by Edmonton’s goaltending crisis and defensive breakdowns.
The Oilers sit near the bottom of the Pacific Division despite possessing two of hockey’s premier talents. MacKinnon’s Hart Trophy case grows stronger with each dominant performance. The gap between the two superstars’ impacts has never been wider than right now.
Colorado’s success, combined with his eye-popping statistics, makes him the clear favorite at this stage of the season. McDavid’s team struggles have severely damaged his MVP candidacy, regardless of his individual excellence.