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Nathan MacKinnon helps Avalanche surge past Ducks

March 28, 2023

Ducks goalie John Gibson makes a save in front of Colorado Avalanche forward Lars Eller during the first period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Nieto, left, and Ducks defenseman Nathan Beaulieu vie for the puck during the first period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche forward Evan Rodrigues, left, reaches for the puck against Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk during the first period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks forward Derek Grant is congratulated after his goal during the first period of their game against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews, left, and Ducks forward Frank Vatrano, right, vie for the puck during the first period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks defensemen Scott Harrington, center, controls the puck between teammate Cam Fowler, right, and Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen during the first period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram, left, celebrates with forwards Logan O’Connor, front, and Darren Helm after scoring during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, front, collides with Colorado Avalanche forward Evan Rodrigues during the first period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson, center, is congratulated after his goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks forward Isac Lundestrom, left, and Colorado Avalanche forward Lars Eller vie for the puck during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard, left, and Ducks forward Trevor Zegras vie for the puck during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin, right, celebrates after scoring against Ducks goalie John Gibson (36) during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche forward Darren Helm, left, shoots as Ducks goalie John Gibson, center, and defenseman Simon Benoit defend during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks forward Mason McTavish, left, drives the puck against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonas Johansson, right, defends as defenseman Samuel Girard, left, vies the puck against Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard, right, and Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg chase the puck during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks forward Frank Vatrano, left, controls the puck away from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, right, controls the puck in front of Ducks forward Derek Grant during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard, left, and Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg vie for the puck during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche goalie Jonas Johansson blocks a shot by Ducks forward Derek Grant during the second period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks goalie John Gibson, center left, defends against Colorado Avalanche forward Alex Newhook, center right, during the third period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks goalie John Gibson catches a puck during the third period of their 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Nieto, left, and Ducks defenseman Scott Harrington vie for the puck during the third period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Ducks goalie John Gibson, left, and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (28) defend against Colorado Avalanche forward Alex Newhook, right, during the third period on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard celebrates his goal during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jack Johnson, left, greets goalie Jonas Johansson after the team defeated the Ducks, 5-1, on Monday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

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ANAHEIM — For nearly 16 tantalizing minutes, it looked like the Ducks could play – at least on this night – with the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

They held a 1-0 lead and early momentum.

The Avalanche equalized with defenseman Bowen Byram’s goal at 15:43 and as time wound down in the first period, the Nathan MacKinnon Show took over. Playing in his 700th NHL game, he made something out of nothing, scoring with 7.9 seconds remaining in, making it 2-1, and it completely changed the complexion of the game.

Colorado went on to score two quick goals – in the first 3:46 of the second period – and it was straight downhill for the Ducks after that as the Avalanche won, 5-1, on Monday night at Honda Center. The Ducks have lost five straight games since defeating Columbus on March 17 and went 1-6-1 during their eight-game homestand.

“It looks like they’re just ramping it up now and getting ready for another run at it,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said of the Avalanche. “I thought we had some good moments in the game. I thought there were some moments where we were in over our head. And some moments we can learn from.”

Further compounding the bad news for the Ducks was that leading scorer Trevor Zegras did not play the third period because of a lower-body injury.

“It actually happened in the first period,” Eakins said of the injury. “He had to leave and get it taped up, or whatever he did. It wasn’t good enough to go. So we’ll have to see how that is for the road trip.”

The Ducks begin a three-game trip on Thursday in Seattle. Against Colorado, the Ducks were already playing without Troy Terry, who has been absent from the team because of personal reasons.

By the time Zegras exited, the game had mostly been decided. Ducks goalie John Gibson made 39 saves.

MacKinnon, who has 24 points and 10 goals this month, was the difference-maker. The two-point night brought him to 95 points in 62 games this season, as he is closing in on an important individual mark – 100 points. His career high is 99 in the 2018-19 season.

In a season full of lessons for the Ducks, this was yet another one, seeing how a player of MacKinnon’s caliber can single-handedly impact a game with two inspired and energized shifts.

In addition to his late first-period goal, MacKinnon set up Valeri Nichushkin, making it 4-1 at 3:46 of the second.

“He had a couple of shifts where he was moving really well,” Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg said. “It’s tough to check him. Sometimes you almost need two guys on him. But as soon as you do that – he slides it to the open man.”

Added Eakins: “It is incredible how hard that kid has worked on his game. The way he’s trained in the summer and how explosive and strong he is. When he’s cutting back down there and the separation he gets, it’s incredible.”

It demonstrated once again that Colorado, not at its best, still manages to find a way. The Avs expanded their lead to 5-1 in the third period on Samuel Girard’s goal at 4:22, their 12th consecutive game with a power-play goal.

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Colorado, which is one point behind Dallas for the Central Division lead, has been beset by injuries all season and started a goaltender, Jonas Johansson, who is well down its organizational depth chart, appearing in just his third game this season.

He made 29 saves and faced 19 shots in the final two periods. The Ducks’ lone goal was produced by the fourth line as center Derek Grant opened the scoring at 12:08 of the first period, set up by Silfverberg, who capitalized on a turnover by Colorado defenseman Cale Makar. Makar went on to record two assists, bringing his point total to 66 in 58 games this season.

“That team there – with a certain core, a certain staff, all those things, six years ago that team was 34 games under .500 and they stayed patient with their program,” Eakins said. “Really patient with their young players and they’re Stanley Cup champions five years later.

“It just takes time. For us, for our fans, that’s a good team to look at and have hope.”

Orange County Register

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Nathan MacKinnon helps Avalanche surge past Ducks

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