Tag: Nathan MacKinnon

NHL Short Ice: Milestones, Streaks, Injury Watch | Mar 13

NHL Short Ice: Milestones, Streaks, Injury Watch | Mar 13

IHM NHL SHORT ICE
Milestones, Streaks, Injury Watch | March 13, 2026

Date: 13 March 2026
By: IceHockeyMan Newsroom

The NHL delivered another heavy night of momentum swings, elite production and late-season pressure as contenders tightened structure, streaks changed direction and several stars pushed the pace of the playoff race.

MacKinnon Drives Colorado Past Seattle

Nathan MacKinnon collected four points as Colorado cruised past Seattle, continuing the Avalanche’s strong stretch with a sixth win in seven games. Nazem Kadri also scored his first goal since returning to Colorado, while the Kraken dropped a fourth straight game.

Impact: Colorado looks dangerous when its top unit attacks with layered speed and clean support underneath the puck. Once MacKinnon starts controlling entries and second-touch distribution, defensive coverage gets stretched fast.

Kucherov Reaches 1,100 Points

Nikita Kucherov recorded two assists in Tampa Bay’s win against Detroit to reach the 1,100-point mark. The Lightning star again dictated offensive tempo, while Tampa received multi-goal support from Jake Guentzel and Gage Goncalves.

Impact: Milestone players are not just collecting numbers in March. They are driving possession, power-play control and emotional stability in games that carry real standings weight.

Dallas Extends Point Streak to 14

The Stars scored the first five goals against Edmonton and pushed their point streak to 14 games. Jason Robertson finished with two goals and two assists, while Jamie Benn added two goals in a dominant team performance.

Impact: Dallas is winning through wave pressure. Their second-layer attack and pace through the middle of the ice are forcing opponents into rushed defensive-zone decisions and broken coverages.

Toronto Ends Skid but Loses Matthews

The Maple Leafs finally ended their eight-game skid by defeating Anaheim with sharp special teams play, but the result came with a major concern as Auston Matthews left the game after a lower-body injury suffered on a knee-on-knee collision.

Impact: A win can reset a room, but injury uncertainty around a franchise center changes everything. Toronto’s next stretch now becomes as much about structure and depth response as pure results.

Capitals Snap Buffalo’s Run

Washington ended Buffalo’s eight-game winning streak thanks to a late goal from Jakob Chychrun. The Capitals stayed composed in a tight game and found the deciding play late in the third period.

Impact: Late-season hockey often belongs to teams that stay patient in low-margin games. One clean activation from the blue line can undo sixty minutes of momentum.

Bedard Delivers Again in Overtime

Connor Bedard scored the overtime winner as Chicago defeated Utah for the second time in four days. The Blackhawks continued to get timely offense from their young core, while Utah slipped deeper into a rough stretch.

Impact: Dynamic creators become even more dangerous in overtime because spacing opens and one deceptive release can finish the game instantly.

Eklund Produces Highlight of the Night

William Eklund scored a spectacular effort goal as San Jose handed Boston its first home loss since December. The Sharks not only delivered a major upset, they did it with a finish that instantly entered goal-of-the-season conversation.

Impact: High-skill second-effort plays are momentum killers for the opponent. They shift the emotional balance of the game and can deflate even strong home teams.

Lafreniere and the Rangers Stay Hot

Alexis Lafreniere extended his goal streak to three games as the Rangers defeated Winnipeg for their third straight win. Gabriel Perreault also continued his productive stretch with another multipoint performance.

Impact: When young skill players heat up together, team confidence rises quickly. New York is getting scoring support beyond its traditional veteran spine, which strengthens matchup flexibility.

Streak Watch Across the League

Minnesota pushed its point streak to five despite losing in a shootout to Philadelphia. Columbus extended its point streak to eight even in an overtime loss to Florida. St. Louis improved to 5-0-1 over its past six, while Seattle dropped a fourth straight and Detroit lost four of five.

Impact: March standings are shaped not only by wins, but by whether teams keep collecting points while not at their best. Surviving bad stretches with overtime points can preserve playoff life.

Goalie Watch

Andrei Vasilevskiy continued his elite form in Tampa Bay’s win and is moving into historical comparison territory. Joey Daccord and Juuse Saros were also in starting focus, underscoring once again how heavily late-season structure depends on stable goaltending.

Impact: At this stage of the season, disciplined goaltending is not just a safety net. It is a tactical foundation that allows aggressive teams to attack with confidence.

Coach Mark Comment

March hockey is about compression. Space disappears faster, mistakes get punished harder and roster instability changes game plans overnight. The strongest teams are the ones that maintain defensive compactness, keep clean support under the puck and do not emotionally break after momentum swings. Streaks are rarely random at this stage. They usually reflect repeatable structure, disciplined bench management and trust in the first pass out of pressure.

Q&A: NHL Momentum Shift

Q1: Why do point streaks matter so much in March?

Because they stabilize a team’s position even when performance is not perfect. Collecting points consistently keeps pressure on rivals and protects playoff margin.

Q2: Why are late goals so common in this part of the season?

Fatigue, shortened decision windows and aggressive risk-taking create more broken defensive sequences late in games.

Q3: Why is a star injury more damaging now than earlier in the season?

There is less recovery time, less tactical adjustment space and every missed game can directly affect playoff seeding or qualification.

Q4: What makes teams like Dallas difficult to handle right now?

They do not rely on one scoring source. Their depth, pace through transition and layered offensive support make matchup planning much harder.

NHL Daily Recap – March 13, 2026 | IHM

Colorado Avalanche 4-1 Anaheim Ducks - Finished | IHM Game Recap

Colorado Avalanche 4-1 Anaheim Ducks | IHM Game Recap

Colorado Avalanche 4-1 Anaheim Ducks

November 12, 2025 – Author: IHM News

Wedgewood turns away 35 shots; Necas nets the dagger on the power play as Colorado controls the third.

Colorado snapped out quickly and never really let go, beating the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 at home after a wire-to-wire, shot-heavy night. Artturi Lehkonen scored 28 seconds in, Gabriel Landeskog restored the lead in the second, and Martin Necas delivered the key third-period power-play strike before an empty-netter sealed it. Scott Wedgewood handled the rest with a composed 35-save performance, outdueling Lukas Dostal as the Avalanche managed special teams and game state down the stretch.

How it happened

First period – 1-1. Colorado set the tone immediately: Lehkonen finished from the slot at 00:28 off touches from Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Anaheim answered late when Leo Carlsson tied it 1-1 at 18:16, capping a greasy sequence around the crease. The frame also featured a parade of minors that foreshadowed a special-teams-tilted night.

Second period – 2-1 COL. With the game tightening, the Avalanche leaned on their forecheck and blue-line activation. Gabriel Landeskog snapped the 1-1 deadlock at 11:37, finishing a feed from Valeri Nichushkin with defenseman Sam Malinski jumping into the play.

Third period – Avalanche close the door. A delay-of-game minor put Anaheim under pressure, and Colorado cashed: Necas ripped the PPG at 07:02 (Lehkonen, MacKinnon) for a crucial two-goal cushion. With Dostal pulled, Parker Kelly iced it into the empty net at 17:39 (MacKinnon, Nelson). From there, Wedgewood’s structure-clean lanes, square on first shots-did the rest.

Numbers Box

  • Shots on goal: COL 36, ANA 36
  • Shots off target: COL 15, ANA 9
  • Shooting %: COL 11.11% (4/36), ANA 2.78% (1/36)
  • Blocked shots: COL 19, ANA 13
  • Goalie saves: Wedgewood (COL) 35/36 – 97.22%; Dostal (ANA) 32/36 – 91.43%
  • Penalties: COL 3, ANA 5
  • PIM: COL 6, ANA 10
  • Power play: COL 1/5, ANA 0/3
  • Notable: Lehkonen GWG + 2-point night; MacKinnon 2 A; Necas PPG; Colorado wins the special-teams battle.

Team Notes

  • Colorado: Fast start metric matters-Lehkonen’s first-minute goal set the ice tilt. Blue line activation (Makar/Toews/Malinski) drove the middle frame.
  • Anaheim: Created volume (36 SOG) but struggled to get interior looks; 0-for-4 on the power play proved costly.

Coach Mark Comment

Colorado’s neutral-zone work funneled Anaheim outside and protected the slot. The third-period detail on the PP was clinical- quick puck speed, middle-lane presence, and a one-touch finish from Necas. Wedgewood’s reads were calm, especially on east-west.

Questions & Answers | IHM Performance Metrics

Q1: What was the true separator at 5-on-5?

A: Colorado’s controlled exits and layered entries-defenseman activation plus F3 discipline-tilted possession even with shots equal.

Q2: How did special teams impact the result?

A: The Avalanche went 1/4 and denied Anaheim on all four attempts; the single PPG arrived at a clutch game state to make it 3-1.

Q3: Which matchup mattered most?

A: MacKinnon’s line versus Anaheim’s top six; Colorado generated interior touches and drew the key penalty that led to the dagger.

Q4: Goalie edge?

A: Wedgewood (97.22% SV) out-performed Dostal (91.43%), particularly on first-chance looks from the dots.

Q5: What’s the takeaway for the next meeting?

A: If Anaheim doesn’t win the net-front and PP entries, Colorado’s pace and blue-line support will keep dictating shot quality.

More NHL news on IHM

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Vancouver Falls 4-5 to Colorado in Overtime | NHL Recap | IHM News

Vancouver Falls 4-5 to Colorado in Overtime | NHL Recap | IHM News

Vancouver Canucks 4-5 Colorado Avalanche (OT)

Date: November 10, 2025
Author: IHM News

Vancouver Falls 4-5 to Colorado in Overtime | NHL Recap

Vancouver Falls 4-5 to Colorado in Overtime | NHL Recap | IHM News

The Colorado Avalanche escaped Rogers Arena with a 5-4 overtime win after a chaotic, momentum-swinging game that featured elite finishing, defensive breakdowns, and special-teams volatility. Vancouver erased a two-goal deficit twice, forcing overtime with a late power-play goal, but Colorado’s skill core delivered when it mattered most.

Nathan MacKinnon powered the Avalanche with a dominant performance, scoring twice in the first period – including a power-play blast – and adding multiple primary contributions across all zones. Vancouver responded with structured pressure and opportunistic scoring, solving Colorado’s defensive coverage in the second and third periods.

Game Flow

MacKinnon opened the scoring at 6:41 of the first period on a setup from Nichushkin and Makar, beating Lankinen cleanly from distance. He struck again at 8:10 on the power play, firing home a rebound after strong puck circulation from Olofsson and Nichushkin.

Vancouver cut the deficit to 2-1 at 11:47 when Leo Karlsson converted a rebound created by Hronek and Kane. Early in the second period, Kiefer Sherwood tied the game 2-2 at 1:44 by capitalizing on a loose puck around the crease.

Colorado regained the lead 3-2 at 0:28 of the third when Artturi Lehkonen cleaned up a rebound created through net-drive pressure from Burns and MacKinnon. Vancouver answered shorthanded at 7:26 when O’Connor jumped on a turnover and beat Blackwood to tie it 3-3.

Lehkonen struck again at 9:47 on the power play, finishing a crisp passing sequence from Necas and MacKinnon. But Vancouver refused to go away – Jake DeBrusk hammered home a power-play equalizer at 16:59, with Boeser and Hughes setting up a perfect shooting lane.

In overtime, Colorado sealed the win quickly. Gavin Brindley scored just 1:08 into the extra frame off a feed from Makar and MacKinnon, giving the Avalanche a hard-earned 5-4 victory on the road.

Numbers Box

  • Shots on Goal: VAN 33, COL 33
  • Shots off Target: VAN 22, COL 13
  • Blocked Shots: VAN 13, COL 18
  • Goalie Saves: Lankinen 28/33 (84.8%), Blackwood 29/33 (87.9%)
  • Penalties: VAN 3, COL 5
  • PIM: VAN 6, COL 10
  • Power Play: VAN 1/5, COL 2/3 (based on shown scoring events: MacKinnon PPG, Lehkonen PPG x2, DeBrusk PPG)
  • Notable: MacKinnon 2G, Lehkonen 2G (including PPG), DeBrusk SHG + PPG, Brindley OT winner

Coach Mark Comment

MacKinnon drove the entire game with pace and control. Colorado’s power-play puck movement was sharp, and Lehkonen’s timing around the crease created consistent problems. Vancouver showed real fight, but their defensive detail in overtime cost them.

Questions & Answers | IHM Performance Metrics

Why did Colorado control the key moments?

Their top line generated the highest-danger touches, and their puck retrievals on the power play kept pressure sustained. MacKinnon dictated tempo every shift.

How did Vancouver stay in the game despite defensive issues?

Their transition counters were efficient, and they capitalized on Colorado turnovers. The shorthanded goal was a major momentum swing.

What made Lehkonen so impactful?

His crease positioning and timing off MacKinnon’s entries created repeat scoring chances. He won most of the inside-lane battles.

What ultimately decided the OT?

Colorado won the opening faceoff, gained clean entry, and used a quick rotation to isolate space for Brindley. Vancouver never touched the puck.

More NHL news and updates on IHM.

Anaheim Ducks 4-1 Winnipeg Jets | IHM Game Recap
Colorado humiliates Oilers 1-9 on home ice; McDavid’s lone goal can’t stop rout | IHM News

Colorado humiliates Oilers 1-9 on home ice; McDavid’s lone goal can’t stop rout | IHM News

Colorado humiliates Oilers 1-9 on home ice; McDavid’s lone goal can’t stop rout | IHM News

Date: November 9, 2025 | Author: IHM News

Colorado humiliates Oilers 1-9 on home ice; McDavid’s lone goal can’t stop rout | IHM News

EDMONTON – The Colorado Avalanche didn’t just win; they embarrassed the Oilers on their own ice in a 1-9 demolition that turned into a statement of superiority. Edmonton’s superstar Connor McDavid had the only home goal on a power play, but everything else belonged to Colorado as wave after wave turned the night into a public collapse for the hosts.

Colorado seized control early through Cale Makar, who struck twice in a 66-second span of the first period (13:29 and 14:35) after an initial Oilers push devolved into penalties and turnovers. A would-be third Avalanche goal was washed out on coach’s challenge at 16:05, but the tone was already set: the visitors were faster, cleaner, and ruthless.

The second period became a humiliation reel. Rookie burner Gavin Brindley made it 0-3 at 2:38, and Jack Drury pushed the avalanche to 0-4 at 4:45. Parker Kelly added a fifth at 9:34. McDavid finally broke the shutout on a power play at 11:30 (from Leon Draisaitl), but Colorado answered instantly with a short-handed dagger by Kelly at 14:38 for 1-6. Edmonton pulled starter Stuart Skinner for Calvin Pickard at 7:28, yet the bleeding didn’t stop.

Any hope of pride in the third evaporated in 24 seconds: Nathan MacKinnon made it 1-7 off a Lehkonen/Toews feed at 00:24, then buried another at 5:01 for 1-8. Drury’s second of the night at 14:28 closed the scoring at 1-9. From puck management to defensive structure, Edmonton were second best in every battle, diced apart in transition and on broken plays. On a night demanding a response, the Oilers delivered a no-show-and their crowd let them hear it.

Key facts

  • Score: Oilers 1, Avalanche 9 (Final)
  • Colorado multi-goal scorers: Cale Makar (2), Nathan MacKinnon (2), Jack Drury (2); Parker Kelly (2 incl. SHG), Gavin Brindley (1)
  • Edmonton goal: Connor McDavid (PPG)
  • Goaltending note (EDM): Skinner started; Pickard entered at 7:28 of 2nd.
  • Coach’s challenge: Colorado goal disallowed at 16:05 of 1st; momentum unaffected.

Scoring summary

1st Period – 13:29 COL Makar (Toews, MacKinnon) 0-1; 14:35 COL Makar (Toews, MacKinnon) 0-2; 16:05 COL goal disallowed (coach’s challenge).

2nd Period – 02:38 COL Brindley (Malinski, Bardakov) 0-3; 04:45 COL Drury (Burns, Olofsson) 0-4; 09:34 COL Kelly (Brindley, Bardakov) 0-5; 11:30 EDM McDavid (PPG, Draisaitl) 1-5; 14:38 COL Kelly (SHG) 1-6.

3rd Period – 00:24 COL MacKinnon (Lehkonen, Toews) 1-7; 05:01 COL MacKinnon (Colton) 1-8; 14:28 COL Drury (Colton, Kelly) 1-9.

Coach Mark comment

Colorado punished every soft puck. They stacked layers through the neutral zone, then killed Edmonton on second pucks and slot seams. The Oilers’ regroup spacing collapsed; their weak-side coverage was late all night. That’s how routs happen: details, not just star power.

Questions & Answers | Avalanche 1-9 Oilers – IHM Performance Metrics

What was the final score of Oilers vs Avalanche?

Colorado Avalanche defeated the Edmonton Oilers 1-9.

Where was the game played?

The game was played on the Oilers’ home ice in Edmonton.

Who scored the Oilers’ only goal?

Connor McDavid scored a power-play goal in the second period.

Who scored for the Avalanche?

Goals for Colorado came from Cale Makar (2), Gavin Brindley (2), Jack Drury (2), Nathan MacKinnon (2), and Patrick Kelly (shorthanded).

What were the period-by-period scores?

Avalanche led 0-2 after the first, 1-6 after the second, and won 1-9 after the third.

Did Edmonton change goalies?

Yes. Stuart Skinner started and was replaced by Calvin Pickard at 7:28 of the second period.

What was the turning point?

Colorado’s three-goal burst early in the second period (2:38 and 4:45 at 5-on-5, then 9:34) blew the game open and seized all momentum.

Did Colorado score on special teams?

Yes. The Avalanche scored a shorthanded goal (Kelly at 14:38 of the second). Edmonton’s lone goal was on the power play.

How did star players impact the result?

MacKinnon struck twice in the third, while Makar set the tone with two first-period goals. McDavid had the lone Oilers tally as Edmonton was overwhelmed in transition and off the rush.

Why is this result significant?

It’s a statement road win and a home-ice humiliation for Edmonton – a 1-9 rout that highlights Colorado’s speed, forecheck pressure and finishing, while exposing Oilers’ defensive structure and goaltending depth.

What’s the IHM verdict?

Colorado: ruthless, playoff-caliber pace and execution. Edmonton: not a bad night – a collapse. Urgent structural fixes required.

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