DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon’s impressive form continued as he extended his point streak to 13 games, contributing two assists in the Colorado Avalanche’s commanding 5-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena on Wednesday.
MacKinnon, who now has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) during his streak, also extended his season-opening home point streak to 15 games, marking his consistent impact for the Avalanche. Colorado coach Jared Bednar praised MacKinnon’s perseverance through his early-season slump and credited his and his line’s work ethic for their current success.
Valeri Nichushkin was another standout for the Avalanche, scoring twice, while Mikko Rantanen added a goal and two assists. Sam Malinski made his mark with his first NHL goal and an assist. Ivan Prosvetov, stepping in for the Avalanche, made 29 saves, contributing to the team’s second straight win.
The Avalanche (18-9-2) demonstrated their maturity and control throughout the game, with Bednar highlighting their perfect start and strong finish.
On the other hand, the Sabres (12-15-3) struggled to keep pace, despite Zach Benson’s goal and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s 24 saves. Buffalo’s coach Don Granato expressed frustration with the team’s sluggish start and inability to execute simple plays.
Rantanen opened the scoring for Colorado in the first period with a wraparound goal, capitalizing on a drop pass from MacKinnon. Nichushkin then doubled the lead, scoring from a loose puck near the goal. His aggressive play in the first period was noted by Bednar, who felt Nichushkin could have had even more goals.
Miles Wood extended Colorado’s lead with a well-placed shot on a 2-on-1 rush. Buffalo’s response came late in the period through Benson, who capitalized on a rebound in front of the net.
The Sabres faced a tough start, with Colorado outshooting them 15-0 before Benson’s goal. Sabres defenseman Erik Johnson acknowledged the team’s flat start and the difficulty of recovering against a strong opponent like Colorado.
Malinski’s goal in the third period further cemented the Avalanche’s lead, with the rookie defenseman describing his thought process on the one-timer. Nichushkin’s second goal of the night, and his 100th NHL goal, came from a backdoor pass by MacKinnon on a power play, a milestone Prosvetov recognized and celebrated.
The game also marked a milestone for MacKinnon, who reached 800 career points, becoming the fifth player in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history to achieve this feat.
The Sabres faced another setback as forward Jeff Skinner left the game with an upper-body injury, with no update provided postgame.
The Avalanche’s win reflects their depth and skill, with contributions from both established stars and emerging talent. The Sabres, meanwhile, will look to regroup and address their early-game performance issues as they continue their season.
