November 6th 2024.
Nathan MacKinnon had a fantastic game on Tuesday night, helping the Colorado Avalanche break out of their recent slump. However, their ongoing injury crisis seems to have reached a new level.
MacKinnon had a career-high five assists in the team's 6-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. The win ended a three-game losing streak, but it came at a cost as defenseman Cale Makar suffered an injury during the second period and was only able to play one brief shift in the third.
"It hasn't been an easy time for us," MacKinnon said. "I'm just trying to contribute every night and help the team in any way I can. I'm not doing anything extraordinary, I'm just focused on improving my game and preparing for the long run. I have faith that the results will come."
Makar's injury occurred during a power play in the second period. He did not play for the rest of the period and only took one short shift at the beginning of the third before heading to the locker room. Coach Jared Bednar did not have an update on Makar's condition after the game, saying only that he "tweaked something" during the second period.
MacKinnon had a hand in both of the team's first-period goals, but they were scored by his linemates. His first assist came after Chris Wagner caused some chaos and MacKinnon made a great pass to set up a shot from the right circle and give the team an early lead. Later on, rookie Ivan Ivan scored his third goal of the season with help from MacKinnon, who now has a point in all 13 games this season.
The Kraken managed to tie the game in the second period, but the Avalanche's power play was on point, scoring twice to regain control. One of those goals came from Artturi Lehkonen, who was making his season debut after recovering from shoulder surgery. "I felt good out there," Lehkonen said. "There were some rusty moments, but overall I'm happy with my performance."
Mikko Rantanen also scored a power-play goal, with MacKinnon providing the secondary assist. However, the play was initially reviewed for offsides before being allowed due to a technicality. Rantanen added an empty-net goal in the final minutes of the game to secure the win.
Justus Annunen was solid in goal for the Avalanche, making five saves and earning his fifth win of the season. MacKinnon praised his performance, saying he has been a stabilizing force for the team.
"It's been great to have Justus in goal," MacKinnon said. "He has really helped us regroup and reset. I have no doubt that he will continue to be a key player for us."
The Avalanche have been dealing with numerous injuries and lineup changes this season, but they have managed to stay competitive thanks to the strong play of players like MacKinnon and Annunen. Hopefully, they will be able to overcome their injury crisis and continue to find success on the ice. Want more news and analysis on the Avalanche? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to stay informed.
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