\u201cWhen you\u2019re around him every day, you see the way he works and how professional he is and how dialed in he is in like every aspect of his career, it doesn\u2019t shock me at all,\u201d Avs coach Jared Bednar said. \u201cWhen you just kind of sit back and look at the numbers and how consistent he\u2019s able to produce and still play hard on the defensive side of the puck, there\u2019s not much he\u2019s lacking in his game, right? So when you take a bird\u2019s eye view of it, he impresses me every day, and he shocks me every day. But like anything else, if you\u2019re around it every day, you just sort of come to expect it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just kind of expect, like, \u2018Well, why didn\u2019t he get three points tonight?\u2019 That\u2019s kind of where it\u2019s at. He\u2019s had a hell of a career to this point, and there\u2019s no signs of him slowing down. So I\u2019m sure he\u2019s well on his way to another, however many points he\u2019s going to get.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Avs were playing well but nursing a one-goal lead in the third period. Coming off their worst game of the season, and a mini-funk of four losses in six contests, there was a clear urgency from Colorado. When MacKinnon and Cale Makar teamed up for a beautiful cross-ice give-and-go, it appeared the Avs had a two-goal cushion.<\/p>\n
Then they didn\u2019t, courtesy of Makar\u2019s goal being taken away after a goaltender interference call that the Avs clearly did not agree with. It was time for Angry Nate.<\/p>\n
![\"Colorado](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26021140161195.jpg\")
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n
The Avs proceeded to score again on two of his next three shifts \u2014 MacKinnon set up Artturi Lehkonen for one and then scored on a pass from Martin Necas \u2014 to break the game open. When Lehkonen scored, the Avs players on the ice celebrated behind the Washington net.<\/p>\n
MacKinnon turned and emphatically pointed at the Capitals\u2019 net \u2014 the official signal for \u201cgood goal\u201d from the guys in stripes. It\u2019s not the first time he\u2019s done it.<\/p>\n
There is one guy who doesn\u2019t mind when Angry Nate appears \u2014 his coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just understand who he is and how much he wants to win,\u201d Bednar said. \u201cSo I think you can expect a little bit of all of it. When he\u2019s a little angry, a little frustrated, I know where he\u2019s coming from, because he wants to make something happen every shift. I think that\u2019s part of what drives him to be great. So I think you\u2019re going to see, and I expect to see, a little bit of all of it in all in one game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love that emotion. It just shows you how into the game they are and how in tune they are. I don\u2019t handle his emotion any which way. I just let him do what he does and just make sure if he\u2019s going off track with it that I try to remind him, like, \u2018You\u2019ve got to keep doing the right things if you want to get rewarded.\u2019 That\u2019s what they did yesterday, and they do that on their own most nights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bednar said the only thing he looks for when MacKinnon gets emotional is whether his superstar channels his frustration or anger while continuing to play the way the Avs want. Most of the time, he does, and sometimes it creates magic.<\/p>\n
Shortly after the game, MacKinnon was asked about the latest milestone. His focus was already looking forward. It\u2019s a big part of how he was able to reach 1,000 points in March, and 1,100 just 62 games later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want to feel good every game,\u201d MacKinnon said. \u201cI want to play well, feel good and help the team. In my mind, it could go away any day.\u201d<\/p>\n