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Avalanche and MacKinnon extend streaks

  
streaks
Nathan MacKinnon gives a fist bump to Devon Toews after scoring a third period breakaway goal. (Photo courtesy of Colorado Avalanche)

It was a successful night with two streaks continuing. The Colorado Avalanche extended their winning streak and Nathan MacKinnon extended both of his point streaks. The Colorado Avalanche now have the longest winning streak of the season sitting at eight games. Their streak started back on March 4th against the Chicago Blackhawks and they have been on a roll since. The addition of all the new players over the trade deadline has helped as well. The moves have made the Avalanche a force to be reckoned with. Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar all were key in the victory tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here are the takeaways from the 6–1 victory over the Blue Jackets.

Takeaways

— MacKinnon has been on fire extending his point streak to 17 games. He is now only two games short of his career high that were set earlier this season (11–20 to 12–27). During the 17-game point streak, MacKinnon has scored an amazing 34 points. Adding to his point streak, MacKinnon has opened the season scoring in all 33 home games. He trails the great Wayne Gretzky, who had a 40 game streak set back in 1988-89. Mackinnon’s goal tonight was his 43rd goal of the season, marking a new career high.

— Rantanen is on pace for career highs in goals, assists and points this season. He is one of two players that has played every game so far this season. With 12 games remaining in the season, Rantanen is only nine points short of his career high of 105 set last season. He has mostly been playing on the first line, but is one player that can shift down to the second line if need be.

— The Avalanche did not give up a penalty until a minute and a half left in the game. Josh Manson laid a clean hit on Mathieu Olivier and they dropped the mitts. Colorado could sustain their offensive momentum throughout the entire game by staying out of the penalty box.

Conclusion

With the moves that the Avalanche have made before and during the deadline, they have become unstoppable. Before, they had to roll two, maybe three, lines through the game. Now, they are so deep, Colorado can roll all four lines AND all three pairs on defense. This makes the workload on Alexandar Georgiev a lot easier. Now Georgiev may play a little more. Next, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins come to Denver on Sunday and will have an early noon puck drop.

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