Homestand Part V: Yet Another Mack-tacular Milestone

The Colorado Avalanche were coming off actually losing back-to-back games at home, which included losing in regulation on home ice for the first time all season. A 2-1-1 stretch in this homestand; the Avs welcomed the Washington Capitals in the fifth game in this set, a Capitals team who is looking for something following their second round exit last season.

Scott Wedgewood was in net against Charlie Lindgren. Caps had an early PP that was knocked off. Both teams had good chances but we would strike first. I thought it was Cale Makar, but it was actually Parker Kelly who put it in; Makar and Alex Barre-Boulet with the helpers. Caps had another PP, and this one was successful. Jakob Chychrun at 7:27. Later on, they call a bogus one on Josh Manson, but Washington's third PP of the game is unsuccessful.

Avs started taking over in the 2nd period, which saw a double-minor called on Chychrun. The Avs PP came through, and it was you-know-who: Nathan MacKinnon! Avs took the lead, and many minutes later, Victor Olofsson (who assisted on the PPG) made it 3-1! It would be a one goal game again only 17 seconds later, as Ethan Frank put one in, and that put Alex Ovechkin on the board--as he had one of the assists. It was 3-2 Avs after 40 minutes, but the third period was really interesting. Cale Makar put one in to make it 4-2, or so we thought. Goaltender interference. That's what they said; doesn't mean that's what happened. I saw nothing of the sort.

However, we would get that goal back, as Artturi Lehkonen struck, and that counted. 4-2 Avs, MacKinnon had the lone assist. Later on, MacKinnon struck for the second time in the outing, giving him another three point performance. That wasn't the only result of this:

Another day, another milestone for Nathan Raymond MacKinnon. It seems like yesterday that we drafted him first overall. I knew he'd be good; I never expected this--greatness. Mack's 2nd goal of the game was his 1100th point of his career. He's only 30 and he has that many points. It still amazes me that he got a Cup before he had his first 100-point season. The Cup came in 2021-22. His first 100-point season was a year later, and he's been getting triple figures ever since, including nearly winning the Ross Trophy (NHL points leader) in each of the last two years. Mack is one hell of a superstar, and he continues to prove it.

Regarding the game, the Avs won, 5-2, and that snapped our mini home skid easily. Avs are now 3-1-1 in the homestand, and are currently 20-1-3 at home; the most impressive start to a team's home season since the infamous 2022-23 Bruins squad. Hopefully we will have a much, much better ending than that team did. Victor Olofsson's goal was the game-winner, Alex Barre-Boulet had his first Avs point, and Martin Necas added two more helpers to his total.

Next up, the homestand continues when the Anaheim Ducks (who are slumping badly, but have won a few games lately) visit Ball Arena on Wednesday. The homestand concludes on Friday when we welcome the Philadelphia Flyers, who are in a tight race in the heart of the Metropolitan Division. After that, it's a four game eastern road trip, which includes facing all three Eastern Canada teams.

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