AVALANCHE: MacKinnon more relieved than thrilled about his recent hot streak.
NASHVILLE, TENN.» It would be easy to say Nathan MacKinnon is a red-hot NHL scorer right now, that he’s in the midst of the best offensive stretch of his career.
That would be true, but this is where the player has long suspected he would be. It’s a sigh of relief for the Avalanche’s No. 1 center, opposed to being giddy about something that won’t last.
MacKinnon, the first pick in the 2013 NHL draft who has tailed off offensively since his Calder Trophy-winning rookie season in 2013-14, has 15 points in his past seven games, making him the league’s second-highest scorer during that span. His five points Thursday in a 6-2 win over Washington were a career high.
But he’s not overly excited about his success.
“I feel like this is where I should be,” he said.
MacKinnon, 22 and already in his fifth NHL season, feels privileged to play with wingers Gabe Landeskog, who turns 25 this month, and Mikko Rantanen, 21. MacKinnon knows he can’t do great things without his teammates knowing his game. He can’t use his world-class skating stride, quick hands and outstanding instincts if his teammates aren’t on the same page.
The line combined for 12 points in the win against the Capitals. Landeskog had his first career hat trick, and Rantanen had a goal and three assists.
“We all gel really well,” MacKinnon said of his line. “We’re good friends off the ice, which is nice, too. Gabe is a really good power forward, I feel. You know what you’re going to get from him every night. He’s going to play hard and physical, and obviously he has a ton of skill. Mikko is just a really good playmaker. I just try to bring some speed, try to back defenders off and create as much as I can.”
MacKinnon’s line has been exceptional at home but around average on the road. That could stem from the home team having the last change between whistles, with the opponent’s top defenders out against MacKinnon and company.
“On the road, we’ve been getting the top (defensive) pairings against us. That’s to be expected,” MacKinnon said. “We’re the top line on the team, and they’re going to try to shut us down. But we have great depth as well. We have lots of lines that can score at any time. That makes it easier for us.”
Landeskog, who is also resurrecting an offensive career that had gone dormant, said his line is confident.
“It all stems from hard work, and it stems from wanting to be difference-makers,” he said. “I know what Mikko brings. I know what Nate brings. It’s about bringing it together with hard work. That’s what we’ve been doing. We just have to make sure we keep it going.”