George Harris
Mar 07, 2024 - 09:05

Cale Makar hat trick, Nathan MacKinnon extends streak in Colorado Avalanche win over Detroit Red Wings

Avalanche's Makar gets hat trick, MacKinnon shines, team scores six straight goals, welcomes back former players, makes trades.

The Colorado Avalanche had an impressive victory with Cale Makar recording the fourth hat trick by a defenseman in the team's NHL franchise history. This achievement placed him alongside Sandis Ozolinsh, Uwe Krupp, and Bryan Fogarty. Makar also contributed with an assist during the game.

Nathan MacKinnon continued his stellar performance with his second consecutive four-point game, solidifying his position as the NHL points leader with 109 points. Artturi Lehkonen, Jonathan Drouin, and Jean-Luc Foudy also found the back of the net, with Foudy scoring his first NHL goal as a recent call-up. Mikko Rantanen shined with four assists for the Avalanche, who bolstered their roster with two trades before the game.

Despite falling behind 2-1 in the first period, the Avalanche mounted an impressive comeback by scoring six unanswered goals. MacKinnon extended his home points streak to 31 games, tying him for the fourth-longest streak in NHL history alongside Bryan Trottier and Mario Lemieux.

In preparation for the game, Colorado acquired defenseman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and center Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo. However, due to timing constraints, Walker and Mittelstadt were unable to join the team, leading to call-ups for Ondrej Pavel and Foudy from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL.

Former Red Wings and Avalanche forward Darren Helm participated in a ceremonial faceoff, reminiscing about his Stanley Cup victories with Detroit in 2008 and Colorado in 2022. The Avalanche also paid tribute to J.T. Compher, who spent seven seasons with the team and played a crucial role in their 2022 Stanley Cup win.

Rantanen expressed his bond with Compher, referring to him as a "brother for life" after sharing many years together on the team. Compher reciprocated the sentiment, highlighting how winning championships together creates an everlasting connection among teammates.