MacKinnon scores 4 goals in Avalanche win against Capitals

DENVER -- Nathan MacKinnon had four goals and an assist to extend his season-opening home point streak to 24 games, and the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Washington Capitals 6-2 at Ball Arena on Wednesday.

MacKinnon passed Joe Sakic (2000-01) for the longest home point streak at any point in a season in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history. It was also his second four-goal game this season (against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 21) and extended his overall point streak to 12 games (11 goals, 15 assists).

“The reason I really like his mentality is because I think, like deep down, all the true competitors have it. It's not about what he's done or what he had done two years ago or last year or even this year to this point,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “That's not what it's about. It's about trying to win again, right? So, the focus is on the endgame, but he's really dialed into the process of what he thinks is going to lead us to success.

“If he's going to do all this stuff in order for our team to have success, he expects everyone else around him to do the same. And I would guess that the most frustrating thing for him is if he sees someone that's not committed or not going on a certain night or not consistent or my stuff's not in order. Whatever it is, it's basically unacceptable, which is exactly the way I would like it. And all the real, true competitors that are dialed in to winning, that's the way you want it.”

Mikko Rantanen had a goal and four assists, and Cale Makar had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche (31-14-3), who hadn't played since a 7-4 win at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Alexandar Georgiev made 23 saves.

“It was a tough start, honestly. It's hard to have that many days off to be honest,” MacKinnon said. “The game is so fast out there, and to get acclimated took us 10 minutes, but then we played well, I thought, the last 50. Power play was good. Got some good looks tonight.”

Dylan Strome scored twice, and Charlie Lindgren made 25 saves for the Capitals (22-18-6), who were coming off a 5-3 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

“Obviously, the difference in the game is three of the best players on the planet,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. "I liked a lot of the things that we did tonight to be honest with you. I know the scoreboard will not reflect that whatsoever, but I liked a lot of the things that we did from an energy standpoint, structure standpoint, offensive zone, even some entry stuff, which has been a struggle for us.”

Makar gave Colorado a 1-0 lead with a short-handed goal at 19:23 of the first period. He picked up the puck in the neutral zone, skated into the high slot, and beat Lindgren glove side with a wrist shot.

“A little bit of a slow start, but to be able to get that one near the end, I think it gave us a little bit of an extra boost,” Makar said. “It was a big one, but obviously guys just found a way to fill the net after that.”

MacKinnon extended the lead to 2-0 at 2:39 of the second period with a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Rantanen on a power play. He then made it 3-0 at 7:00 with another one-timer from the left circle on a power play, this one coming off a cross-ice pass from Makar.

“We try to move it around and find the open guy, and today it was Nate,” Rantanen said of the power play. “Some nights it's Cale, some nights it's me, Ross (Colton), or [Jonathan Drouin] there, but he was open today, and good for him to finish those two looks we had.”

MacKinnon completed the natural hat trick to make it 4-0 at 9:16. He took a pass from Rantanen on a 2-on-1, cut back across the crease, and beat Lindgren with his backhand.

“It's fun to watch. The chemistry that they have and the ability that they just have to score right now, paired with their work ethic, is second to none right now,” Makar said. “So, it's really fun to watch from the back end to be honest with you. You just put the puck in their hands and you just kind of watch.”

Strome cut the lead to 4-1 at 7:26 of the third period, scoring blocker side from in front after he whiffed on Max Pacioretty's initial pass.

Rantanen made it 5-1 at 10:20, batting in the puck after Drouin's centering pass hit him and deflected into the air.

MacKinnon scored his fourth of the game from the high slot during a 4-on-4 to make it 6-1 at 16:14.

“It's always nice to score four, obviously, and I'd be lying if I said anything different,” MacKinnon said. “Hockey's a funny sport. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't, and right now they're going in for me.”

Strome's second of the game also came during a 4-on-4 to make it 6-2 at 17:37.

NOTES: MacKinnon has 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) during his season-opening home point streak. He also leads the NHL with 82 points (30 goals, 52 assists) this season. … MacKinnon's natural hat trick was the second in Avalanche history. Sakic had the first on March 13, 2003. ... MacKinnon joined Michel Goulet (twice in 1985-86) as the only players in Avalanche/Nordiques history with multiple four-goal games in a season. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (twice in 2007-08) is the only other active player to achieve the feat. … Makar’s goal was the first short-handed one of his career. It was also his 76th in the NHL, which moved him past Tyson Barrie for the most by a defenseman in Avalanche/Nordiques history.