Getty Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
It’s been quite a run for Nathan MacKinnon.
The Colorado Avalanche center failed to register a point in his team’s 3-2 shootout loss to the New York Rangers in Denver on March 28, ending his point streak at 19 games and his season-opening home point streak at 35 games. MacKinnon had 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) during his home streak, which is the second-longest in NHL history. Wayne Gretzky owns the longest at 40 games (Los Angeles Kings, 1988-89).
MacKinnon’s point streaks didn’t end without controversy, however. Corey Masisak of The Denver Post reported that the Avalanche asked the NHL’s hockey operations department to review the official scoring on Colorado’s second goal against the Rangers in an attempt to award MacKinnon an assist, but the league has said that there will be no changes.
NHL’s Rule Book Interpretation Keeps MacKinnon Off Scoresheet in Loss to Rangers
MacKinnon initially appeared to have an assist on the Avalanche’s game-tying goal in the third period when he sent a pass to Devon Toews, who found the back of the Rangers’ net. However, the puck went in off Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren’s stick. It was ruled an own goal by Lindgren, officially making it an unassisted goal for Toews.
Devan Dubnyk wants to give Nathan MacKinnon an assist on this goal, but @Rupper17 isn’t so sure.
Should MacKinnon have gotten a point on this goal and extended his streak?
It was a flukey play in more ways than one. Colorado winger Mikko Rantanen was initially credited with the goal, with assists from Toews and MacKinnon, after his stick hit Lindgren’s and caused the goal. However, a video review determined that Rantanen’s stick never touched the puck, thereby awarding the goal to Toews.
Rule 78.3 of the NHL’s official rulebook states, “When a player scores a goal, an ‘assist’ shall be credited to the player or players (maximum two) who touch the puck prior to the goal scorer provided no defender plays or has control of the puck subsequently.” The league’s hockey operations determined that Rantanen’s stick did not cause the goal and that Lindgren put it in himself.
“Well, I knew right away I didn’t touch it,” Rantanen told Masisak after the game. “I guess they saw that he had possession, which ended Nate’s streak. That was really sad. I hit his stick on his backhand and it went in. I don’t know if that’s possession for him. I know it’s not my goal, but maybe there should be an assist [for MacKinnon].”
MacKinnon Joins Esteemed Company During Historic Season
The Avalanche have the best home record in the NHL this season (28-7-1), and MacKinnon’s fingerprints have been all over it. Not only did he score in 35 straight home games; he also has the most points by an NHL player at home this season (77) since Mario Lemieux had 104 and Jaromir Jagr had 83 for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.
MacKinnon posted two separate 19-game point streaks in 2023-24, becoming the first player in NHL history to do so in a single season.
You’ve seen this before: Nathan MacKinnon pushed his point streak to 19 games.
He improved his 2023-24 totals to 45-78—123 – the third-highest single-season total in franchise history behind Peter Stastny (139 in 1981-82 & 124 in 1982-83).
MacKinnon has the second-most points (123), third-most assists (78) and is tied for the fourth-most goals (45) among all NHL skaters this season. Even with his streaks coming to an end, he remains a frontrunner for both the Hart Trophy, given to the NHL’s most valuable player, and the Art Ross Trophy, given to the league’s leading scorer. His trophy case already includes the Calder Memorial Trophy, which he won as the NHL’s top rookie in 2014; the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which he won for his sportsmanship and playing ability in 2020; and the Stanley Cup, which he won with the Avalanche in 2022.