Nathan MacKinnon registered two goals as the Colorado Avalanche extended their point streak to 13 games with a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Friday night in Denver.
Brandon Saad also scored for Colorado, Gabriel Landeskog recorded two assists and Jonas Johansson stopped 25 shots for his first win this season — the second of his career. The Avalanche are amid an 11-0-2 stretch and closing in on the club-record point streak of 16 games, set in 2000-01.
The West Division-leading Avalanche are also 10-0-1 over their past 11 home games.
David Perron had a goal with an assist and Mike Hoffman also scored for St. Louis. The Blues managed only 15 shots on goal over the second and third periods and could not convert a late power-play chance while falling to 0-4-1 in their past five contests.
Jordan Binnington, who made 36 saves Friday, has been in net every game during the Blues’ skid.
Colorado wasted no time opening the scoring. On the power play, Saad, amid a scrum, worked the puck past Binnington to end an eight-game goal drought 3:24 into the contest.
St. Louis answered just 26 seconds later when Hoffman jammed the puck past Johansson, who was making his second start since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on March 21. However, the Avalanche took the lead back with 5:17 left in the first period.
Again on the power play, MacKinnon flipped the puck into the net from right in front of Binnington. With two power-play goals on six chances Friday, Colorado is 8-for-17 with the man-advantage in three games against the Blues this season.
MacKinnon’s second goal made it 3-1 with 6:49 left in the second period, going five-hole on a poorly positioned Binnington while breaking in on the side of the net.
St. Louis got back within a goal through Perron’s team-leading 13th of the season via a four-on-three situation with 2:44 left in the middle frame.
The teams will play again Saturday night at Denver.
–Field Level Media