Nathan MacKinnon's 3-point outing lifts Avalanche past Ducks

Field Level Media|published: Sat 21st December, 01:32 2024

Dec 20, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) skates with the puck against Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish (23) in the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Nathan MacKinnon had two assists and an empty-net goal in the Colorado Avalanche's 4-2 road win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

The Avalanche have won their last two games, while the loss ended Anaheim's own two-game win streak.

Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar each had a goal and an assist, and Mikko Rantanen had two assists.

Parker Kelly's short-handed goal highlighted another strong performance for Colorado's streaking penalty-kill unit. The Avalanche were 5-for-5 on the kill Friday, and are 21-for-22 in killing penalties over their last eight games.

It was the seventh time this season MacKinnon has recorded at least three points in a game. MacKinnon leads the NHL in points (55) and assists (41).

Scott Wedgewood stopped 30 of 32 shots. The goalie is 4-2-0 with a sterling .932 save percentage for Colorado since being acquired in a Nov. 30 trade with the Nashville Predators.

Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn scored for the Ducks. John Gibson stopped 19 of 22 shots, including a save on a Samuel Girard penalty shot late in the third period.

Carlsson opened the scoring with a tip-in goal 2:40 into the second period. Carlsson ended a five-game points drought by expertly re-directing a Jacob Trouba point shot into Colorado's net.

The Ducks looked to extend their lead during a power play four minutes later, but it was Kelly who found the net on a short-handed goal. A slip from Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger in the neutral zone resulted in a 2-on-1 rush for Kelly and Logan O'Connor, with Kelly delivering the equalizer.

Colorado took the lead 10:57 into the second period. Gibson partially blocked Makar's initial shot but the puck trickled past Gibson into the crease, and Nichushkin was in position to deposit the loose puck.

Makar added a power-play tally at 3:30 of the third period. Makar leads all NHL defensemen with 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists).

Killorn scored at 13:05 of the third period, but MacKinnon sealed Colorado's win with an empty-netter with 81 seconds remaining in regulation.

--Field Level Media

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