Mikko Rantanen scored twice and assisted once, extending Nathan MacKinnon’s streak of home points to 33 games with a goal in the third period as the Colorado Avalanche dominated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-1 on Friday night.
Cale Makar, Ross Colton, and Valeri Nichushkin also contributed goals for the Avalanche, who clinched their eighth consecutive victory, propelling them to the top of the Central Division. Alexandar Georgiev made 23 saves to secure his 36th win of the season.
“A lot of guys are feeling confident about their game now. I would say everybody,” said Rantanen, whose team recorded 51 shots on goal. “So we’re just trying to maintain this momentum and keep it going.”
Despite trailing 1-0 initially, the Avalanche scored six consecutive goals, marking their 24th comeback win of the season. “I just wish that maybe we start with a goal a little more often than the other team,” Georgiev joked. “We’re confident in our group.”
MacKinnon’s breakaway goal at 6:01 of the third period extended his home points streak, which now stands as the second-longest in NHL history to open a season, behind Wayne Gretzky’s record of 40 in 1988-89. “Guys are rooting for (MacKinnon) and try to help him keep it going,” Rantanen said.
Damon Severson scored the lone goal for the struggling Columbus team, which has dropped to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The Blue Jackets are now 0-1-1 on a five-game road trip, with Elvis Merzlikins facing a barrage of shots and making 45 saves.
“The Avalanche seem to have that sixth sense where they don’t even have to look and know where the guy is going to be,” Severson remarked. “That’s a team that we should aspire to be one day in this locker room.”
Colton and Rantanen’s goals within 1:24 of each other in the second period solidified Colorado’s lead. Rantanen, who recently notched a hat trick in a game against St. Louis, is now just four points away from achieving his second consecutive 100-point season.
Although the Blue Jackets appeared to narrow the gap with a goal in the second period, it was disallowed due to a hand pass.
The game also paid tribute to former NHL winger Chris Simon, who passed away at 52, with a moment of silence. Simon, known for his physical play, won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996 and had a career spanning 15 NHL seasons.
