Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon scores 50 goals for second time in his career

Corey Masisak, The Denver Post on Apr 1, 2026

Published in Hockey

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DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon has scored 50 goals for the second time in three NHL seasons.

The Avalanche star scored his 50th during his first shift of the night Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks at Ball Arena. MacKinnon wheeled near the left point and snapped a shot past goalie Kevin Lankinen just 82 seconds into the contest.

MacKinnon scored No. 49 on Monday night against the Calgary Flames. It was a power-play marker late in the second period.

He also had 51 two years ago, when he swept the league MVP awards (Hart Trophy, Ted Lindsey Award). MacKinnon is the third player in franchise history to reach the milestone at least twice. Avs president Joe Sakic did so in 1995-96 and 2000-01. Michel Goulet did it four years in a row, from 1982-86, while the franchise was based in Quebec City.

Goulet holds the franchise record for goals in a season with 57. Mikko Rantanen has the Denver-based standard after scoring 55 during the 2022-23 season.

MacKinnon currently leads the NHL in goals, and could win the Rocket Richard Trophy for the first time in his career. The only player in franchise history to lead the league in goals was Milan Hejduk in 2002-03.

The Avs’ superstar now has two seasons with at least 50 goals and 70 assists. MacKinnon is the only active player with multiple 50-goal, 70-assist seasons, though Connor McDavid could join him with seven more goals this season. There are only six players in league history who have hit both of those markers more than once in a season — Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito and Steve Yzerman.

MacKinnon is the 16th player in league history to score 50-plus goals in his age-30 season or later. It has been done 23 times, most recently by Edmonton’s Zach Hyman in 2023-24. Sakic is on the list, with his career-best 54-goal season in 2000-01.

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