DENVER, COL. – Valeri Nichushkin scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon added two assists to break the franchise’s single-season points record and the Colorado Avalanche advanced to the playoffs with a 5-1 win over Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night.
MacKinnon ends the regular season. . season with 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) to break Peter Stastny’s record of 139 points set in 1981-82 when the club was in Quebec.
The speedy MacKinnon couldn’t keep up with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov in the race for the Art Ross Trophy, which goes to top scorer. Kucherov finished with 144 points.
Even so, MacKinnon made a convincing case for the Hart Trophy as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Then again, so do Kucherov, Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid.
“I don’t think one guy is more deserving (than) another guy,” MacKinnon said. “It’s not in my hands and I can’t control who votes for me, who doesn’t like me or who doesn’t like me. Anyway, everything is fine. »
Mikko Rantanen, Josh Manson and Zach Parise also scored to help the Avalanche end a two-game skid. Colorado led 4-0 midway through the first period and never looked back in a game in which the Oilers rested several of their starters, including McDavid.
«C This Is a tough match playing against a depleted squad. . It’s exciting to play against the best players in the league, the best players in the world out there,” MacKinnon said, referring to McDavid. “But I understand. They have nothing to play with right now. They don’t want to be hurt. »
Justus Annunen made 25 saves for the Avalanche, who finished with a record 31-game home winning streak. Colorado will open the playoffs at Winnipeg on Sunday.
“I like where we are,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I think the players are in good spirits.”
Dylan Holloway scored a power-play goal for Edmonton. The Oilers will host Los Angeles in the first round starting Monday following the Kings’ overtime win over Chicago and Vegas’ loss to Anaheim next Thursday.
Absent from the roster In addition to McDavid, Edmonton also has Mattias Ekholm, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent -Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard and Evander Kane. That accounts for nearly 70% of the team’s points this season.
“I thought the first half of that first period, we were just standing there watching them and they were skating around us , perform,” Oilers forward Corey said. » Perry said. “After that, it was all business and we fought hard. The way we started, it wasn’t like that.
“It was a great team. They are in playoff mode and they have come out strong. “
The Avalanche kicked off with a full lineup and Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner was under pressure from the start, allowing four goals on 13 shots in the first period. Calvin Pickard continued took charge after the first intermission and stopped 13 shots.
MacKinnon joined Kucherov’s 140-point club this season for the seventh time in history The NHL has several players reach this milestone. The last time was Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux in 1995-96, according to NHL statistics.
Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin looked shaky late in the second period and n He didn’t Be on the bench to start with. third period. He finished his career year with 56 points.
Bednar had no post-game update.
Denver Pioneers players were in attendance and received an ovation enthusiastic response from the audience in the first match. Stage. The team won its 10th NCAA national hockey title last weekend.
