Nathan MacKinnon got to 30 goals absurdly fast for scorching Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon had two more goals in Sunday’s impressive 5-1 win over the Minnesota Wild.

And those two tallies meant MacKinnon now has an even 30 goals on the season through only 35 games.

A second Hart Trophy appears like it could be in MacKinnon’s future, as the Avalanche stayed scorching hot. They are now 26-2-7, good for 59 points. As of Monday afternoon they were four points ahead of the Dallas Stars and 10 ahead of the Wild for the most in the NHL. It’s crazy all three teams play in the same division.

For Nathan MacKinnon, he also made some franchise history. He became the fastest player in an Avalanche sweater to ever reach 30 goals this early. And you have to go back to the Quebec Nordiques days to find anyone who did it quicker.

MacKinnon 1st @NHL player to 30 goals, requiring 2nd fewest games (35) to 30 goals in team history behind Michel Goulet (34, 1985-86)

8th 30-goal season—tying Goulet & P. Stastny for 2nd in club history behind Sakic (9)—and 5th consecutive, 3rd behind Goulet (8), Stastny (6)

— Brendan McNicholas (@bmcnich) December 22, 2025

Nathan MacKinnon also now has 61 points on the season, which is second only to Edmonton’s Connor McDavid with 62. MacKinnon’s 30 goals are by far the most in the NHL, with Morgan Geekie of Boston in second with 25.

The Avalanche season isn’t boring, far from it, but they win almost every time they take ice. That makes for an absurdly fun time now, but the pressure will only be cranked up come playoff time to capture another Stanley Cup.

If Nathan MacKinnon continues this level of play over the next six months, that could absolutely be Colorado’s reality. It feels like he makes history every single night.

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