MacKinnon Named NHL's First Star Of The Week

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon was named the NHL's first star for the week ending on Jan. 21, the league announced on Monday.
MacKinnon registered six points (four goals, two assists) in three contests this week to extend his point streak to nine games, the longest active streak in the NHL.

The 22-year-old recorded two game-winning goals this week including the deciding goal in the Avalanche's 3-1 win against the New York Rangers on Saturday. It was his seventh game-winner of the season, a new career high and ties him for the league lead.

On Thursday, MacKinnon found the back of the net twice and added a helper in Colorado's 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. It was his eighth three-point performance of the season, the most in Colorado history since Joe Sakic in 2006-07. It was his fifth multi-goal game of the campaign, making him the first Avalanche player to register five contests with multiple goals at home in a season since Matt Duchene in 2010-11.
He has found the back of the net in his last five games the longest goal streak by an Avalanche player since Gabriel Landeskog had five during the 2014-15 campaign.

The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native has 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 45 games this season, ranking him second in the league, just two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov.
Since the start of December, MacKinnon has registered an NHL-best 31 points (15 goals 16 assists) in 22 contests, highlighted by 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) during Colorado's current nine-game winning streak.

This is MacKinnon's second NHL's three stars of the week honor since he was named the third for the week of Nov. 13-19 after he recorded seven points (two goals, five assists) in three contests, including a career-high, five-point effort (one goal, four assists) on Nov. 16.
It is the third time this season an Avalanche player has been named a star of the week as goaltender Jonathan Bernier was named the second star for the week of Jan. 1-7 in addition to both of MacKinnon's honors.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was named the league's second star of the week while Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand earned third star honors.