Colorado Avalanche Triumph Over St. Louis Blues
In a commanding performance on Wednesday night, the Colorado Avalanche triumphed over the St. Louis Blues with a score of 6-1, marking their ninth consecutive victory. Nathan MacKinnon not only achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring his 400th NHL goal but also contributed an additional goal and two assists to help lead the team. This achievement places him among an elite group in franchise history, as he is the first player to score all 400 goals while playing exclusively for the Avalanche. Previous franchise greats include Joe Sakic, who netted 625 goals, and Michel Goulet with 456, both of whom had parts of their careers with the Quebec Nordiques prior to the team’s relocation to Colorado.
MacKinnon’s Dominance and Team Performance
MacKinnon now leads the NHL with 34 goals this season and is tied for the most points in the league, totaling 70 alongside Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid. His teammate, Valeri Nichushkin, also made waves by recording his second career hat trick, scoring three goals in total, two of which came in a stunning display during the first four minutes and 39 seconds of the game. Colorado’s Brock Nelson added to the scoreboard with another goal later on a power play.
Home Streak and Historical Context
This latest victory at home continues Colorado’s impressive streak, which now stands at 15 consecutive wins on their home ice, where they maintain an unbeaten record of 17 wins, 0 losses, and 2 ties. The Avalanche’s overall tally this season is a striking 30 wins, 2 losses, and 7 ties, giving them a total of 69 points. This statistic ties them with the iconic 1929-30 Boston Bruins for the most points accumulated through the first 39 games of a season.
Challenges for the Blues
On the other side, St. Louis’s goaltender Jordan Binnington faced a challenging night, conceding four goals on just eight shots before managing 37 saves overall. The Blues, who have now lost two consecutive matches, struggled to generate offense, finishing the game with a season-low of 13 shots on goal. Dalibor Dvorsky did manage to find the net for St. Louis, interrupting what had been a solid performance by Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.
Fast Start and Upcoming Matches
The Avalanche’s scoring blitz began swiftly, with Nichushkin scoring just one minute into the game, quickly followed by MacKinnon’s opening goal at 3:13. Nichushkin struck again shortly thereafter, and MacKinnon’s powerful slap shot added to their early lead, establishing a franchise record for the fastest four goals scored at the start of a game, ranked third all-time in NHL history.
Looking ahead, the Blues are set to host the Vegas Golden Knights this Friday, while the Avalanche will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night.
