MacKinnon Named #1 Star Of The Month Again

If Nathan MacKinnon isn’t the current leader in the race for the Hart Trophy, then I don’t know who is.

Okay, I kind of do, but he’s building quite the case for himself.

On Thursday, the NHL announced that for the second straight month, MacKinnon has been named the #1 star in the league. He was previously named Player of the Month in December after putting up 29 points in just 15 games. In January, he somehow managed to improve on those numbers, by dropping 26 points in just 12 games.

MacKinnon is currently in Toronto with his teammates Cale Makar and Alexandar Georgiev to take part in the NHL All-Star festivities. MacKinnon, who sits second in the NHL in scoring at the moment, behind only Nikita Kucherov, will take part in four events during Friday’s Skills Competition – One Timers, Passing Challenge, Stick Handling, and Accuracy Shooting.

Second star of the month went to Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner, while the third star was Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson.

Here’s the release from the NHL, going over all of the Colorado Avalanche superstar’s accomplishments.

MacKinnon led the NHL with 12-14—26 and five game-winning goals (tied) in 12 contests to help the Avalanche (32-14-3, 67 points) maintain first place in the Central Division via a 9-3-0 January. MacKinnon, who also was named “First Star” of December, became the second player in as many seasons to earn that distinction in consecutive months, following Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid in February and March 2023. MacKinnon found the scoresheet in each of his 12 January appearances, extending his point streak to 13 games dating to Dec. 31 (12-16—28) – his second double-digit run of 2023-24 (also Nov. 20 – Dec. 27: 13-23—36 in 19 GP). He also stretched his season-opening home point streak to 25 contests (21-32—53), tied with Bobby Orr (19-31—50 in 1974-75 w/ BOS) for the second-longest such run in League history behind only Wayne Gretzky’s unblemished 1988-89 home campaign (33-70—103 in 40 GP w/ LAK). MacKinnon’s January featured seven multi-point performances, capped by a stretch of three straight to close the month (Jan. 20-26: 7-4—11). That window included consecutive games with at least four points, highlighted by 4-1—5 Jan. 24 vs. WSH – his second career four-goal and seventh career five-point efforts. The 28-year-old MacKinnon, who will be making his fifth career NHL All-Star Game appearance this weekend, ranks second in the League with 31-53—84 through 49 total contests this season. He also places among the top five in the NHL in assists (t-1st; 53), power-play assists (2nd; 25), power-play points (2nd; 32), shots on goal (2nd; 224), game-winning goals (t-3rd; 7) and goals (5th; 31).

The Avalanche and their superstar return to action on Monday in New York. Colorado Hockey Now will be live at Madison Square Garden with all the coverage.