Flames at Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon hasn't wasted any time validating his accomplishments from a season ago and tries to help Colorado continue its solid start when the Avalanche host the Calgary Flames on Saturday. MacKinnon, who was a Hart Trophy finalist in 2018 after recording career highs of 39 goals and 58 assists, has scored in every game this season - notching two in Thursday's 6-1 victory at Buffalo - and owns a club-high five on only 23 shots.
“He’s one of the hungriest guys I’ve ever met,'' Colorado coach Jared Bednar told reporters prior to the season. "He’s one of the hardest working guys I’ve ever met. He’s hungry to prove that (last season) wasn’t a one-off - that’s who he is. He expects to be even better this year.” MacKinnon took off last season when he joined a line with captain Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, and the trio is picking up where they left off with a combined seven goals and 15 points in leading the Avalanche to a 3-1-0 start. Calgary also has a productive No. 1 line as Sean Monahan (four goals), Elias Lindholm (three) and Johnny Gaudreau have totaled eight goals and 17 points in the early going but were held to one assist in Thursday's 5-3 loss at St. Louis. Flames power forward Matthew Tkachuk is also off to a fast start with a goal and six assists, and has recorded at least one point in each game this season.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC, Sportsnet One, City (Calgary), Altitude (Colorado)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (2-2-0): James Neal, who averaged 26.3 goals in his first 10 seasons, scored his first of 2018-19 on Thursday. "I put pressure on myself to score every night, so it was nice to get my first one in a Flames jersey," Neal told reporters. "It (stinks) that it was a loss, but I'll take momentum off that, build off it for sure." Mike Smith (2-2-0, 3.57 goals-against average, .881 save percentage) allowed five goals on 24 shots versus St. Louis and was pulled after two periods, giving way to Saturday's expected starter - David Rittich.
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (3-1-0): MacKinnon has scored in every game, matching the second-longest streak to start a season in franchise history (Quebec's Mats Sundin, five in 1992-93), but told reporters "I think I can play better than I am. I'm just putting them in right now, but I think, overall, it hasn't been the easiest year so far. Our line's gotten better, like we played last season, but it's nice to score some goals." Colorado boasts the second-most goals in the Western Conference (17) thanks to scoring depth that includes Carl Soderberg and Colin Wilson, who have three apiece. Semyon Varlamov (3-0-0, 1.33. .955) is off to a strong start, perhaps motivated to elevate his game while looking over his shoulder at want-to-be No. 1 Philipp Grubauer.
OVERTIME
1. Colorado LW Alex Kamenev, who was acquired from Nashville in the blockbuster three-team trade that sent Matt Duchene to Ottawa in November, made his season debut Thursday - his first NHL game since breaking his arm Nov. 16 and sixth overall.
2. The Avalanche have scored at least one power-play goal in each game this season and are 5-for-15 with the man advantage while the penalty killers are off to an 18-for-19 start.
3. Calgary has won five of the last six meetings over the past two seasons, including two victories in Denver.