The Avalanche scoring machine is reaching new heights.
Colorado steamrolled the visiting Los Angeles Kings, 9-3, on Wednesday night at Ball Arena to mark a season-high for goals scored this season.
Nathan Mackinnon recorded a hat trick and two assists. He joined six teammates with multi-point efforts: Nicolas Aube-Kubel (two goals), Andre Burakovsky (goal/assist), Bo Byram (two assists), Artturi Lehkonen (two assists), Cale Makar (three assists/goal) and Val Nichushkin (two goals).
“I loved the way we finished off the game,” coach Jared Bednar said.
The Avalanche, 53-14-6, extended its current winning streak to seven games. Colorado makes a quick turnaround on Thursday against the Devils in playing the second game on back-to-back nights. Only nine regular season games remain until the playoffs.
The Avs led 4-0 after the first period and jumped out to a two-goal lead within the opening four minutes of play.
Aube-Kubel hammered the puck from inside the left circle and it bounced underneath the leg pad of Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick. Then Nichushkin secured his first career 20-goal NHL season with a buried rebound at the net. Byram, in his fourth game back from ongoing concussion issues, assisted on both Avalanche goals.
Colorado just kept coming.
MacKinnon made it 3-0 with a power-play blast. Los Angeles changed goalies, swapping Quick for Cal Petersen, and Aube-Kubel scored 41 seconds later (his second goal of the night).
The Kings showed life early in the second period. Los Angeles forward Adrian Kempe snuck a rebound past Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper. Then a blue-line blast from King defenseman Jordan Pence was tipped in by forward Alex Iafallo — cutting LA’s deficit to 4-2 midway through the period.
“Our first period, we came so strong and maybe we slacked for maybe five minutes in the second period,” Aube-Kubel said. “That’s where they got their momentum.”
But the Avalanche never panicked. Burakovsky scored from the slot on a Kings defensive turnover. Colorado’s second power-play chance of the night resulted in a Makar goal (No. 26 on the season). MacKinnon assisted on both scoring plays.
MacKinnon opened the third period with a breakaway goal. Nichushkin scored again. Then MacKinnon earned his hat trick despite telling reporters it wasn’t on his mind.
“We play tomorrow. I was just chilling,” MacKinnon said. “A good bounce and I just kind of whacked at it. I was blessed tonight, for sure.”
Los Angeles added a late goal from Phillip Danault.
