The opening game of the playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars started as a tight defensive battle, with no goals through the first two periods. But by the end of the second, Nathan MacKinnon had already left his mark, reaching a new milestone in his outstanding career. The Avalanche star notched three points and became the fastest active NHL player to reach 50 career postseason goals, leading Colorado to a dominant 5-1 win in Game 1 on Saturday.
MacKinnon’s first goal came on a power play late in the second period, a knuckling shot from the left circle that gave the Avs a 2-0 lead. His second goal, an empty-netter with just over three minutes left in regulation, marked his 50th career playoff goal—surpassing Alex Ovechkin as the quickest active player to reach that mark.
MacKinnon also joined elite company in franchise history, becoming just the third player in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history to reach 50 playoff goals, alongside Joe Sakic (84) and Peter Forsberg (58).
“He was excellent tonight,” said head coach Jared Bednar. “Obviously teams are going to focus on him, just like we do with their stars, but he had a strong defensive game and was making plays all night. That line was dangerous.”
After Dallas’ Roope Hintz cut the lead to 2-1 early in the third, Colorado pulled away with goals from Devon Toews and Charlie Coyle, with MacKinnon’s second tally helping secure the win and steal home-ice advantage.
Defenseman Cale Makar also reached a personal milestone, assisting on MacKinnon’s first goal to become the third-fastest defenseman in NHL history to record 60 playoff assists, trailing only Bobby Orr and Al MacInnis.
The Avalanche now lead the series 1-0, with Game 2 set for Monday in Dallas before the series shifts to Denver for Games 3 and 4.