Against old rival Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, Nathan MacKinnon’s Hart Trophy candidacy blossomed with another three-point performance that further attached his name beside some of the greatest Avalanche players of all time.
The Avs center, who entered the game with 36 goals — the most since Joe Sakic had 36 in 2006-07 — scored twice to become the club’s most prolific goal-scorer since Milan Hejduk won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy with 50 in 2002-03.
MacKinnon’s 37th on the season at 7:09 of the third period gave Colorado a three-goal lead en route to a 5-1 triumph over the Red Wings in front of a sellout crowd at the Pepsi Center.