DENVER (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin scored two power-play targets, Nathan MacKinnon had an help to increase his season-opening residence factors streak to 23 video games and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 on Wednesday night time.
Alexandar Georgiev made 25 saves for his second shutout of the season. Logan O’Connor added a third-period purpose and Mikko Rantanen had a pair of assists to assist the Avalanche win for the sixth time in seven video games.
MacKinnon grew to become the fourth participant in NHL historical past with a season-opening residence factors streak of no less than 23 video games.
“His recreation is at all times at a excessive stage,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar mentioned. “It’s simply now each recreation he’s discovering a method to impression the sport.”
Colorado managed the tempo, which was a departure from the final time the Avalanche confronted Vegas on Nov. 4 in a 7-0 loss. Georgiev struggled in that recreation, permitting all seven targets on 34 photographs.
Vegas needed to alter its plans in web when Adin Hill, who was tentatively slated to start out after being sidelined with a lower-body harm, was introduced as unavailable. Jiri Patera stepped in and stopped 32 photographs. The Golden Knights additionally recalled Isaiah Saville from Henderson of the American Hockey League and he served because the backup. Logan Thompson stays out with an sickness.
“To see (Patera) have the sport he did and for us to present him that efficiency was upsetting,” Vegas ahead Chandler Stephenson mentioned. “He performed nice.”
The struggling Golden Knights have misplaced seven of 9.
“We should be higher. We haven’t been on high of our recreation,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned. “That’s why we’ve misplaced so many video games.”
Georgiev made some nifty saves all recreation lengthy. He additionally received a lucky break within the second interval when a shot clanged off the put up.
“Good recreation, for me,” Bednar mentioned. “You are by no means going to undergo the sport with zero scoring possibilities towards. In opposition to good groups, they’re going to have a few grade-A possibilities.”
Nichushkin scored a pair of power-play targets to stake Colorado to a 2-0 lead after two intervals. Each targets have been arrange from passes by Rantanen from behind the online.
MacKinnon additionally was credited with an help on Nichushkin’s second purpose. MacKinnon joined some formidable firm of gamers who’ve notched a house factors streak of no less than 23 video games to start a season. The checklist additionally consists of Wayne Gretzky (40 straight residence video games with the Los Angeles Kings in 1988-89, and 23 with Edmonton in 1983-84), Bobby Orr (25 with Boston in 1974-75) and Phil Esposito (23 with Boston in 1973-74), in line with NHL Stats.
As well as, MacKinnon tied Joe Sakic (2000-01) for the longest residence factors streak at any stage of a season in franchise historical past.
“It’s a unique pace with (MacKinnon) on the market,” O’Connor mentioned. “He’s a man that we are able to depend on each single night time. He’s a horse on the market and he’s simple to comply with. He is doing all the best issues.”
Each groups have been lacking key contributors. Vegas ahead Michael Amadio was a late scratch on account of an sickness. The workforce additionally introduced that William Service underwent surgical procedure for an upper-body harm and is taken into account week-to-week.
The Avalanche have been lacking Josh Manson (lower-body harm) and Miles Wooden (sickness). That they had a well-known face present up on the rink for morning skate Wednesday in captain Gabriel Landeskog. He’s anticipated to overlook this season — his second straight — as he recovers from one other knee surgical procedure.
“At any time when he’s round, he at all times brings an excellent power,” Bednar mentioned.
UP NEXT
Golden Knights: Host Boston on Thursday night time.
Avalanche: Begin a five-game journey Saturday night time at Toronto.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Denver 7+ Colorado Information Newest Headlines | January 11, 6am
