Nathan MacKinnon's huge night helps Avalanche cruise past Kraken

Corey Masisak, The Denver Post on Mar 13, 2026

Published in Hockey

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SEATTLE — Nathan MacKinnon made up for lost time.

Two days after being ejected against the Edmonton Oilers, MacKinnon returned to the ice with a vengeance. The Colorado Avalanche star had a goal and three assists Thursday night to help his club roll past the Seattle Kraken, 5-1, at Climate Pledge Arena.

The NHL rescinded MacKinnon’s game misconduct, and he resumed his pursuit of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid in the scoring race with a huge night. Scott Wedgewood made 28 saves, and is now 5-0 since the Olympic break.

The Avs did not have captain Gabe Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen or Ross Colton because of injuries, and they played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the first time this season. MacKinnon and the top line provided all the offense Colorado needed and then some.

MacKinnon sent a cross-ice pass from the outer edge of the left circle to Martin Necas, who was cutting towards the right post. Devon Toews touched the puck en route but didn’t change the trajectory and Necas was able to corral it and bury his 30th goal of the season at 3:45 of the opening period.

Necas set his career high with his 29th goal two days ago against Edmonton. He has been on a scoring tear since the Olympic break. He began Thursday tied for the league lead in goals (seven) and first in points (15) since the break.

MacKinnon attempted a cross-crease pass intended for Nazem Kadri at the left post later in the period, but this one hit Kraken defenseman Adam Larsson’s skate and went in the net. It became MacKinnon’s league-leading 44th goal of the year at 12:54 of the period.

Colorado’s suddenly competent power play made it a 3-0 advantage late in the period. Necas made a nice play to break up a potential one-timer in the slot, then drew a double-minor for high-sticking as he battled with Jordan Eberle for the loose puck.

MacKinnon sent the puck into the slot for Brock Nelson. He didn’t get much on his shot attempt, but the puck trickled right to Niclas Roy at the edge of the crease and he collected his second goal in four games with the Avs. Roy, who had five goals in 59 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Avs, was on the ice with the first power-play unit because Necas was getting looked at on the bench.

Colorado’s power play is now 7 of 30 (23.3%) since the Olympic break, after reaching the hiatus with the league’s worst efficiency (15.1%). While it looks much better than in the offensive zone than it did a month ago, one issue still persists.

The Avs lead the league in shorthanded goals allowed, and No. 12 came in the second period. Roy, back with the second unit, fell near the center red line after receiving a pass from Brent Burns. Chandler Stephenson was there to grab the puck, lead a break the other way and hit Ryker Evans trailing the play for a goal at 13:36 of the second.

Kadri restored the three-goal advantage with 2:49 remaining in the middle period. MacKinnon dropped the puck for Sam Malinski at the right point. Kadri tipped Malinski’s point shot past ex-Avs goalie Philipp Grubauer, who had replaced Joey D’Accord in the Seattle net after the first period.

That was Kadri’s 13th goal of the season, and his first since returning to Colorado in a trade just before the deadline last week.

Joel Kiviranta added Colorado’s fifth goal at 12:41 of the third period. Josh Manson’s shot from the left point went off Kiviranta and into the net, giving the Finnish Olympian his third goal of the season.