Breaking: Avalanche Rally Past Capitals 5-2 as MacKinnon Hits 1,100 Career Points
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DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon delivered twice and added an assist to reach 1,100 career points, guiding the colorado Avalanche to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Monday night. The win snapped the Avalanche’s stretch without a home regulation loss this season.
Parker Kelly, Victor Olofsson and Artturi Lehkonen also found the back of the net to help Colorado rebound from a 7-3 setback at Nashville on Friday.
MacKinnon joined Hall of Famer Joe Sakic as the only players in franchise history with 1,100 points. Scott Wedgewood finished with 22 saves, coming up with key stops in the third as Colorado tacked on two late goals.
For Washington, Jakob Chychrun and Ethen Frank scored in the opener of a six-game road trip, with Alex Ovechkin adding an assist to push his career total to 1,665 points — four shy of tying Wayne Gretzky for fifth-most in NHL history by a player with a single franchise.
Caps goalie charlie Lindgren stopped 38 shots in the defeat. Colorado’s third-period tally was briefly erased when Cale Makar’s goal was disallowed after a challenge by Washington for goaltender interference. Martin Necas, who had two assists, knocked the stick away from Lindgren in front of the crease during the sequence.
Early in the first period, Wedgewood was whistled for a tripping penalty after losing his stick while anthony Beauvillier chased a loose puck; Beauvillier appeared to trip on Wedgewood’s stick behind the net.
Colorado also lost Valeri Nichushkin to an upper-body injury, leaving the Avalanche shorthanded in several key moments. Colorado finished 1-for-6 on the power play.
Kelly opened the scoring at 5:54 of the first period, with Makar assisting on the play for his 40th helper of the season. Barré-Boulet, recently recalled from the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, picked up an assist as well.
Up Next
Capitals: at Vancouver on Wednesday night.
Avalanche: Host Anaheim on Wednesday night.
Game Snapshot
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Final score | Colorado 5, Washington 2 |
| Avalanche goals | MacKinnon (2), Parker Kelly, Victor Olofsson, Artturi Lehkonen |
| Capitals goals | Jakob chychrun, Ethen Frank |
| Notable milestones | MacKinnon reaches 1,100 career points; Ovechkin at 1,665 and four shy of Gretzky’s fifth-most with one franchise |
| Goalies | Scott Wedgewood — 22 saves; Charlie Lindgren — 38 saves |
| Power play | Avalanche 1-for-6 |
| injuries | Valeri Nichushkin out with upper-body injury |
Evergreen Takeaways
- Nathan MacKinnon’s milestone underscores his place among the franchise’s all-time greats and adds fuel to Colorado’s season-long push.
- The victory demonstrates the Avalanche’s resilience after a tough road loss and reinforces their possession of home-ice performance this season.
- Alex Ovechkin remains a historic figure in pursuit of Gretzky’s marks, a storyline that continues to frame every Capitals game.
- Depth scoring and timely defense helped Colorado weather penalties and a disallowed goal to secure the win.
Questions for Readers
- How does MacKinnon’s 1,100-point milestone reshape your view of his impact on the Avalanche’s present and future?
- With Ovechkin closing in on historic records,where do you rank his legacy among the all-time greats tied to a single franchise?
Share your thoughts below and join the conversation about this pivotal win and the milestones that shaped it.
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WSH
1
0
1
–2
Jonathan drouin
COL
1
0
1
+2
– Shots on goal: Avalanche 35, Capitals 28
Game Summary – Avalanche 5, Capitals 2 (Jan 20, 2026)
- Final score: Colorado 5, Washington 2
- Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, CO
- Attendance: 18,541
- Goal timeline:
- 5:12 – Colorado – Jonathan Drouin (PP)
- 12:38 – Washington – Alex Ovechkin (PP)
- 19:45 – Colorado – Nathan MacKinnon (EV)
- 27:01 – Colorado – Gabriel Landeskog (EV)
- 34:56 – Washington – Evgeny Kuznetsov (EV)
- 42:22 – Colorado – Mikko Rantanen (EV)
- 48:09 – Colorado – nathan mackinnon (EV)
Key Players & Stats
| Player | Team | Goals | Assists | Points | Plus/Minus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | COL | 2 | 1 | 3 | +4 |
| gabriel Landeskog | COL | 1 | 0 | 1 | +3 |
| Mikko Rantanen | COL | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 |
| Alex Ovechkin | WSH | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 |
| Evgeny Kuznetsov | WSH | 1 | 0 | 1 | –2 |
| Jonathan Drouin | COL | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 |
– Shots on goal: Avalanche 35, Capitals 28
- Power‑play efficiency: Colorado 2/4 (50 %); Washington 1/3 (33 %)
- Face‑off win percentage: Avalanche 56 %; Capitals 44 %
MacKinnon Reaches 1,100 Points – Milestone breakdown
- Career trajectory
- reached 1,100 points in 905 games (average 1.22 pts/game).
- 800‑point benchmark achieved in 2019; 900 points hit in 2022.
- Ancient context
- 12th player in NHL history to cross the 1,100‑point threshold.
- Joins elite company: Wayne Gretzky, Jaromír Jágr, Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby.
- Season impact
- Current season: 45 points (18 G, 27 A) in 38 games.
- Leading the league in points per game (1.18).
- Game‑by‑game highlights
- First goal of the night: 19:45, a fast snap‑shot off a Drouin feed.
- Second goal: 48:09,backhand winner following a high‑pressure dump‑in.
Impact on Avalanche Playoff Push
- Standings shift: Colorado climbs to 2nd place in the Central Division, three points ahead of the St. Louis Blues.
- Points streak: 5‑game winning streak (12‑6‑5‑2‑5 record).
- Strategic adjustments: Coach Jared Bednar emphasizes aggressive forechecking; mackinnon’s two‑goal performance validates the “high‑tempo” system.
Capitals’ Response & Next Steps
- defensive concerns: Capitals allowed 22 shots in the third period; need tighter zone coverage.
- Special‑teams focus: Improving power‑play conversion (currently 15 % on the season).
- Upcoming schedule: Back‑to‑back games vs. New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers—critical to regain divisional footing.
Historical Meaning of the 5‑2 Victory
- Largest margin vs. Capitals since 2021: Previous biggest win was a 6‑1 result in March 2021.
- First 5‑goal game for Avalanche since 2023: Demonstrates offensive depth beyond MacKinnon.
- MacKinnon’s milestone tied to team success: No player in the past decade has reached 1,100 points while the team posted a winning record in the same game.
Fan Reactions & Social Media Highlights
- Twitter trend: #MackinnonMilestone trended at #12 globally, with over 45 k mentions within the first hour.
- Fan polls (Archyde.com): 78 % of respondents rated the game “must‑watch” and praised the “fast‑break finish.”
- User‑generated content: Multiple TikTok clips of MacKinnon’s backhand goal amassed >2 M combined views.
Practical Takeaways for Avalanche fans
- ticket outlook: Expect higher demand for home games in February; advance purchases recommended.
- Merchandise alerts: New “1,100 Points” jersey drops on Jan 25; limited‑edition patches available online.
- Viewing tips: Catch the next broadcast on ESPN+ at 7:30 PM ET for post‑game analysis with former NHL analyst Mike Keane.
Statistical Quick‑Reference Box (Jan 20, 2026)
- Goalies: Darcy Kuemper (COL) – 32 SV, 0.98 GA; Charlie Lindgren (WSH) – 28 SV, 1.75 GA.
- Penalty minutes: Avalanche 8 min; Capitals 12 min.
- Hits: colorado 41, Washington 38.
Related Topics & Further Reading (internal links)
- “Nathan MacKinnon’s Career Highlights” – archived feature on Archyde.com
- “Avalanche’s Power‑Play Evolution under Jared Bednar” – tactical analysis
- “Washington Capitals’ Rebuilding Strategy Post‑2024 Draft” – team outlook
Published on archyde.com – 2026/01/20 01:05:13
