Nathan MacKinnon has already made his point for the Avalanche this season. Now comes the part where he stops making it with his fists.
Colorado’s superstar set the tone early by dropping the gloves with Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke, who was a thorn in the Avalanche side last season. He followed that up with a fight against Roope Hintz of the Stars, a clear message that the Avalanche won’t be pushed around this year. That battle got ugly fast, too - MacKinnon caught quite the knuckle sandwich from the Fin to open the fight and had to leave the ice for repairs from the training staff before returning.
MacKinnon addressed his physical start and said he’s likely to stop fighting unless he has to, which should be a welcome note for Avalanche fans.
The team and its supporters have wanted more toughness around the lineup, and management clearly listened by adding sandpaper, especially to the bottom-six forward group. But the biggest early statement came from a core player, and MacKinnon delivered it.
There’s no question the edge is part of what makes him so effective and so popular in burgundy and blue. He plays with intensity, and as he noted, that’s likely tied to his upbringing in the Maritimes. Still, that same fire has to be channeled in ways that help the Avalanche most - driving play, putting the puck in the net and setting up teammates.
That’s where the balance matters. MacKinnon is at his best when he’s on the ice, and he’s the kind of player Colorado needs available every night. If he keeps getting pulled into fights, the risk of missing those ever-important games goes up.
For Avalanche fans, the takeaway is simple: they appreciated the toughness, the message and the willingness to stand up for the team. Now they’d much rather see MacKinnon leave the pugilism to the players built for it and keep doing what he does best.
In Other News...
Avalanche Catch A Break In Dallas But Face A Bigger Concern
The Avalanche walked into Dallas with a little extra room to breathe before puck drop, thanks to a Stars lineup that looks thinner than usual down the middle. Wyatt Johnston is unavailable because of an illness, and thats a notable absence for a team that has leaned on his reliability for a long stretch. Sam Steel has been bumped up to second center, and Dallas is even asking defenseman Kyle Capobianco to fill in as a forward, a sign the Stars are patching things together wherever they can.
Colorado still has its own issues to manage, though, and they are bigger than any short-term break in the matchup. The Avalanche are also missing Cale Makar for family reasons, and that leaves them operating with 17 skaters while trying to keep pace in a game that already has some shuffling on both benches. With injuries adding to the uncertainty for both sides, this one has turned into less of a clean matchup and more of a test of depth and adaptability. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Got The Response They Needed In Heated Stars Win
MacKenzie Blackwood steadied the Avalanche in a needed 3-2 win over the Stars during the NHLs Frozen Frenzy, turning aside 24 shots and helping Colorado reset the tone after its previous loss. Martin Necas delivered the offense with two goals, including the power-play winner, as the Avalanche found a way to come out on top in a game that had plenty of bite for this early stretch of the schedule.
The physical edge was part of the story, too, with Nathan MacKinnon dropping the gloves in a fight and leaving with a bloody nose that needed attention during the game, though he is expected to be fine. Colorado and Dallas are right back at it in the next game of the home-and-home, giving the Avalanche a quick chance to show whether this win was just a response or the start of something steadier. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fast Start Suddenly Feels Fragile Against Dallas
Artturi Lehkonen gave Colorado the kind of start it wanted, scoring first in the opening period and briefly putting the Avalanche in control against Dallas. The pace was tense from there, with both goaltenders making key saves as the Stars pressed back and the game settled into the sort of early-season test that can turn on one mistake.
Dallas found that mistake before the period was over, tying things at 1-1 on a power play and taking some of the shine off Colorados opening push. Penalties and a late altercation only added to the unease, leaving the Avalanche with a good start that suddenly felt a lot less secure heading into the next stretch of the game. [Read more 🡒]