MacKinnon and Makar Each Score Twice as Avalanche Defeats Rangers 6-3 to Win Seventh-Consecutive Game

Thursday Night Thriller

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each scored twice to lead the Avalanche past the New York Rangers 6-3 on Thursday at Ball Arena to extend the team's win streak to seven games. Brock Nelson and Ross Colton both added tallies while Martin Necas posted three assists. With his first goal of the game, MacKinnon recorded the 1,049th point of his career and passed Peter Stastny for the second-most in franchise history.

“I think it just goes back to how resilient we are," Makar said about the team responding to the Rangers' goals. "Regardless of the score right now, we're continuing to play our game, and that's what makes it fun.”

With the win, Colorado improved to 14-1-5.

How It Happened

J.T. Miller put the Rangers on the board first with a power-play goal at 2:26 of the opening frame via a net-front redirect.

MacKinnon tied the game with his 15th goal of the season at 19:33 of the first period when he cleaned up a rebound from the right doorstep.

Adam Edstrom gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 3:58 of the middle frame with a shot from the doorstep off the rush.

At 17:15 of the second period, Makar tied the game with his seventh goal of the season via a wraparound from below the left goal line set up by Necas' feed after he received a drop pass from MacKinnon. With that assist, MacKinnon tied Stastny for the second-most helpers in franchise history (668).

Nelson gave the Avs a 3-2 lead on the power play at 2:36 of the third period with his sixth goal of the season via a wrist shot from the slot off the rush. With the secondary assist on the goal, Scott Wedgewood posted his first-career NHL point. With that tally, Nelson became the fourth active player to post at least 20 goals against the Rangers, joining Alex Ovechkin (46), Sidney Crosby (40) and Evgeni Malkin (32).

Miller tied the game with his second power-play goal of the evening via a net-front deflection at 10:18 of the third period.

Just 30 seconds later, at 10:48 of the third, MacKinnon scored his second goal of the game and 16th of the season via a backhand shot from the left slot after Makar's shot hit the post.

Makar doubled Colorado's lead at 18:35 of the third period with his second goal of the game and eighth of the season via an empty-net tally from his own zone.

At 19:47 of the third, Colton gave the Avs a 6-3 lead with his fourth goal of the season via an empty-net tally.

Next Up

The Avalanche begins a two-game road trip against the Nashville Predators on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT on Altitude2, Altitude+ and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.