Nathan MacKinnon’s hat trick propels Avalanche to 2-0 series lead

If a “clutch gene” exists, Nathan MacKinnon has it.

The Avalanche had been cruising along with a comfortable lead in Wednesday’s Game 2 of their playoff series with the Blues until early in the third period, when Nazem Kadri left his feet to make contact with St. Louis’ Justin Faulk’s head, sending Faulk to the ice in a heap and Kadri to the showers with a five-minute major and match penalty that will certainly land him a suspension.

The Blues cashed that power play in, and trailed 3-2 with just under 10 minutes to play. The angry Blues had all the momentum, but the Avalanche’s superstar center would not be denied. Firing a shot only a stride from the blue line, MacKinnon’s shot found the back of the net to give the Avs a 4-2 lead; one they needed, since St. Louis’ Mike Hoffman scored only 15 seconds later.

Colorado’s one-goal lead forced the Blues to pull goaltender Jordan Binnington, allowing Brandon Saad and MacKinnon to pot empty-net goals — in MacKinnon’s case, his third goal of the game, and the Avalanche’s first playoff hat trick since 1997.

“I don’t know if I am at another level, pucks are going in right now, I guess,” MacKinnon explained, giving credit to line mates Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. “All my goals are with great screens in front. Landy, Mikko are beasts down low, and honestly, without those guys battling and mucking it up in front when I am up high, those pucks don’t go in. Everyone is helping out for sure.”

Teammate Joonas Donskoi, who had two goals of his own — one of which a deflection of a MacKinnon shot — spoke after the game about what he’s seen from his teammate in the two seasons since Donskoi signed with the Avalanche as a free agent.

“I know that about him, that he usually gets big in the playoffs, and that’s exactly what he’s done here in these first couple of games. Five goals. That’s pretty great; we are happy to have him playing for our team.”

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NEXT UP: Game 2, Avalanche at Blues (Avalanche lead series, 2-0) | Friday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. | TV: USA

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NOTES

• Nathan MacKinnon’s hat trick was the first for the Avalanche since Valeri Kamensky had one against the Blackhawks on April 24, 1997. With his four-point night in Game 2 (three goals, one assist), MacKinnon passed Kamensky to move into fifth place in Avalanche history. With his next goal, MacKinnon will tie Chris Drury for the fourth-most in Avalanche history with 26 goals, leaving only Milan Hedjuk (34), Peter Forsberg (56) and Joe Sakic (77) ahead of him.

• The team’s top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog has been responsible for 16 points on the Avalanche’s 10 goals over the series’ first two games.

• Joonas Donskoi’s goal only 35 seconds into the game was the fastest in Avalanche playoff history.

• Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Tyson Jost each won eight face-offs, and the trio won 24-of-33 (73 percent) on the night.

• Nazem Kadri’s illegal hit on the Blues’ Justin Faulk earned him a five-minute major, a match penalty, and almost certainly a suspension. Kadri has been suspended by the league five times since 2013, including twice in the playoffs. “The guy can’t control himself,” said St. Louis’ Brayden Schenn, who scored on the ensuing power play. “In the playoffs, he’s a repeat offender. Bad hits. Greasy hits. He had a guy in a vulnerable position and he picked nothing but the head.”

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THE FINAL WORD

“It’s hard sometimes to figure out what the league suspends guys for and what they don’t. We’ll see what they come back with.” — Head coach Jared Bednar, on the fallout from Nazem Kadri’s illegal hit and match penalty in Game 2.

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LAST NIGHT’S LINES

FORWARDS
Top Line: LW Gabriel Landeskog, C Nathan MacKinnon, RW Mikko Rantanen
Second Line: LW Andre Burakovsky, C Nazem Kadri, RW Joonas Donskoi
Third Line: LW Brandon Saad, C Tyson Jost, LW Valeri Nichushkin
Fourth Line: LW Alex Newhook, C Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, RW J.T. Compher

DEFENSEMEN
Top Pair: LD Devon Toews, RD Cale Makar
Second Pair: LD Ryan Graves, RD Samuel Girard
Third Pair: LD Patrik Nemeth, RD Conor Timmins

GOALTENDER
Starter: Philipp Grubauer

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INJURY WATCH

• Bowen Byram (upper-body injury) has been out since March 24, but is “an option whenever we want to use him,” according to head coach Jared Bednar on May 19.
• Logan O’Connor (lower-body injury) was placed on injured reserve on Apr. 2. He has surgery, and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
• Matt Calvert (upper-body injury) missed the Mar. 31 game and was placed on the injured reserve list on Apr. 11.
• Dennis Gilbert (facial injury, COVID-19 protocol) was placed on injured reserve on Feb. 20. He is expected to be out until at least late March.
• Erik Johnson (upper-body injury) left the Jan. 30 game and has no projected return date. On March 25, coach Jared Bednar suggested that it was possible that Johnson could miss the remainder of the season.
• Pavel Francouz (hip) has yet to play this season and remains on injured reserve. On Apr. 12, the Avalanche ruled him out for the rest of the season following hip surgery.

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Shawn Drotar is the host of “The Fan Late Night with Shawn Drotar;” weeknights from 10:00 p.m. to midnight — only on 104.3 The Fan

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