Mackinnon FROM PAGE 1

defenders who are ostensibly set up specifically with a plan to contain him was on display earlier this month at Madison Square Garden. He collected a short pass from Makar just inside the Colorado blue line as the Rangers set their 1-3-1 defense against a breakout.

This happens dozens of times per game. The idea for the defending team is to make the attacking side either turn the puck over or dump it into offensive end from the neutral zone.

Mackinnon dismantled it with ease. He slipped between K’andre Miller and Barclay Goodrow in the neutral zone with one quick deke and then used Braden Schneider as a screen to beat Jonathan Quick.

“Speed kills in any sport. He’s got such great speed,” veteran Avs defenseman Jack Johnson said. “You have to be aware of where he is at all times. There’s lots of guys with great speed, but I don’t know how many guys other than him and Mcdavid that can handle the puck at that speed. That’s usually the difference. You have to know where they are and you have to see them winding up so you have a chance to start backing up.”

That goal against the Rangers came at even strength, after New York had time to get its defensive structure in place.

It is the type of coast-tocoast tally that is rare in the NHL because well-coached professional defenses are so good at preventing exactly what Mackinnon pulled off.

Mcdavid has been the gold standard as a oneman zone entry for years, and he’s the consensus fastest player in the league — both with and without the puck. Mackinnon has found a way to close the gap and make that a twoperson club.

The NHL has a new collection of advanced stats that help measure things like speed and shot velocity. Mackinnon has reached a sustained speed of 20-plus miles per hour 486 times this season, per the NHL Edge data. That is 170 more than Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point. Mcdavid is third at 292, albeit in seven fewer games.

Mackinnon has also reached a sustained speed of 22-plus miles per hour 77 times. Mcdavid is next with 45.

“Fast, man. Just … fast,” Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman said. “That’s a great example of a player that works on his game tirelessly. I’ve heard such great stories. (Brad Marchand) is always telling me what he trains like and how seriously he treats his body before games, after games. And obviously you see how he performs. That’s a player I’ve always looked up to, with how I carry myself and treat my body and lead the team.”

Mackinnon brushed aside a question about the NHL Edge data earlier this season with a logical response — it’s because he’s the drop guy on the power play. There is some truth here.

Because of how the Avs design their zone-entry strategy with the man advantage, with someone sending a drop pass to Mackinnon in the defensive zone, it allows him to “wind it up” and attack the four penalty killers at high speeds.

The drop pass has become an integral strategy for most NHL teams over the past half-decade. It’s a direct response to teams becoming so proficient at stopping zone entries despite having one less player on the ice.

Avs assistant coach Ray Bennett noted earlier this month that Colorado has the No. 1 success rate with power-play zone entries in the NHL.

“I look really smart, and it has zero to do with me,” Bennett said. “We run a single drop a lot with Nate for that reason, because of his speed and his ability to make players miss. I have to believe that if you’re a defender — forward or defenseman — in that situation on the penalty kill, it’s gotta be awfully intimidating to have him coming at you. So our success is often predicated just simply based on his ability, his speed, his puck control and his vision up the ice.

“We do some things tactically to try to help him, but it is very singular in his abilities to get us in the zone. And not just get in the zone but get into a situation where either we have

a rush shot opportunity or get into our set. It’s primarily his abilities.”

There are other players who are great at helping their clubs get set up on the power play. Mcdavid is an obvious one, and the Oilers’ strategy looks a lot like the Avs. Some teams use two players coming up the ice together. Other clubs use multiple passes.

The Avs do have a couple of other ideas to try if needed, but most of the time Plan A — give the puck to Mackinnon and he’ll break into the zone before finding a teammate — is the best plan.

Mackinnon’s ability to make plays at that speed is one of the sport’s ultimate cheat codes.

“Really, there’s not much you can do at the end of the day,” veteran forward and long-time penalty killer Andrew Cogliano said. “Hopefully, you can make him pick a side and then hopefully get another guy that can help us make a stand to maybe create some pressure and maybe get a turnover.

“You try to gain as much ice as you can and just try not to get embarrassed at that point. Two special players (Mackinnon and Mcdavid) who come at you with so much speed and intensity. You have no choice but to get ready and do everything you can to try and angle them in some sort of way. It is what it is and those are just the facts. They’re too fast and too strong.”