As Nathan MacKinnon goes, so go the Colorado Avalanche.
The 23-year-old star has been a force to reckoned with during the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, and MacKinnon continued his stellar play with the opening goal in his team's 3-0 Game 4 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Midway through the second period, MacKinnon set up beside the Sharks' net and pounced on a rebound. After San Jose goalie Martin Jones made the initial save, MacKinnon poked in the loose puck to give his team the lead.
It was MacKinnon's sixth marker of the playoffs and extended his point streak to eight games. Only Joe Sakic (10 games) and Claude Lemieux (nine games) have held longer playoff point streaks in Avalanche history, with MacKinnon joining Sakic as the only Colorado players to score six or more times in a single postseason since 2004.
Nathan MacKinnon is the first @Avalanche player to score 6+ goals in a postseason since Joe Sakic in 2004 (7-5—12 in 11 GP). #NHLStats #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/xpc4GOI2iU
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 3, 2019
Most importantly, MacKinnon's goal led the Avalanche to a series-tying victory.
The Halifax, N.S., native has recorded a point in every contest of this postseason except for Colorado's 4-0 loss to Calgary in Game 1 of the first round. In the nine games since, MacKinnon has leaped to the top of the NHL playoff scoring charts with 13 points (six goals, seven assists).
Nathan MacKinnon now leads all scorers in the #StanleyCup Playoffs with 13 points.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/gMAWJe1OHe
— x- Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 3, 2019
Imagine watching Nathan MacKinnon and not thinking he’s the best player still playing...#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/qlQNvWgWOP
— x- Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) May 3, 2019
MacKinnon and the Avalanche head to San Jose, Calif., where they will face the Sharks on Saturday in Game 5.