Avalanche Blank Red Wings 5-0 Behind MacKinnon’s Milestone Night and Blackwood’s Shutout
The Colorado Avalanche rolled into Little Caesars Arena and left no doubt about who’s setting the pace in the NHL right now. With a 5-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings, the Avs capped off their final road trip before the Olympic break in dominant fashion - and they did it with the kind of all-around performance that reminds the rest of the league just how dangerous this team can be when they’re firing on all cylinders.
Let’s start with the headliner: Nathan MacKinnon. The Avs’ superstar continues to play like a man possessed, scoring twice in the win - including a jaw-dropping turn-and-fire goal in the first period that left Detroit’s defense flat-footed.
His second tally of the afternoon wasn’t just another insurance goal. It was his 40th of the season, making him the first player in the league to hit that mark.
For context, the next closest? Connor McDavid, sitting at 34.
That’s not just a lead - that’s a statement.
MacKinnon’s second goal also carried some franchise history with it. With that even-strength marker, he passed Michel Goulet to move into second place all-time for even-strength goals in Avalanche history. The guy is rewriting the record books in real time, and he’s doing it with the kind of consistency and flair that’s become his trademark.
But this wasn’t just the MacKinnon show.
Brent Burns got the scoring started early in the first, picking his spot and beating John Gibson to give Colorado the lead. From there, the Avs never looked back.
Ross Colton added to the tally early in the second period, scoring in back-to-back games and continuing a strong stretch of play for the versatile forward. And Parker Kelly - a bottom-six grinder having a quietly impressive season - chipped in with his third goal in five games.
That kind of depth scoring is what separates contenders from pretenders, and right now, Colorado’s depth is showing up in a big way.
In net, Mackenzie Blackwood got the start after Scott Wedgewood was a late scratch against Montreal. And Blackwood made the most of the opportunity.
He was calm, composed, and completely in control, turning away everything Detroit threw at him to earn his third shutout of the season. The Red Wings did what they could, even swapping out John Gibson for Cam Talbot in the third period, but nothing was getting past Blackwood on this day.
The Avs played a full 60 minutes - structured, relentless, and opportunistic. Even with Martin Necas sidelined due to a lower-body injury (suffered in the previous game against Montreal), Colorado didn’t miss a beat. That’s the kind of team depth and resilience that wins you games in February - and wins you series in May and June.
Now, the Avalanche head home with momentum firmly on their side. They’ll face Detroit again on Monday at Ball Arena in their second-to-last game before the Olympic break. If this game was any indication, the Avs are locked in - and the rest of the league should be paying attention.
Because when MacKinnon is breaking records, the depth is scoring, and the goaltending is shutting the door? That’s a recipe for something special.