Nathan MacKinnon is tied for third in NHL scoring and leads the league in points-per-game at 1.35. His 81 points is the most for an Avalanche player since 2006-07 when Joe Sakic had 100 and Andrew Brunette 83, and MacKinnon is vying to join Sakic and Peter Forsberg as Colorado’s only Hart Trophy winners as league MVP.
So if you’re Avs coach Jared Bednar, MacKinnon is the last member of your team you’d want to see get in a fight.
But MacKinnon fought for the third time this season Saturday, instigating a brawl with Arizona’s Jordan Martinook after Martinook crushed MacKinnon’s linemate Mikko Rantanen with a hard check in the middle of the ice.