Deen’s Daily: MacKinnon Red Hot Entering Break; Doughty Joins Team Canada; Crosby Decision Looming

Nathan MacKinnon is on fire heading into his first best-on-best action with Team Canada. Drew Doughty joins him as a teammate and an injured Sidney Crosby has not yet decided if he’s going to try and play for Canada.

All that and more on this edition of Deen’s Daily — February 9.

Colorado Hockey Now

MacKinnon spent exactly one day not in the lead for the NHL’s points race before using the last two games — a back-to-back, to put up seven points and sit comfortably atop the standings. MacKinnon had 80 points entering Thursday’s games, one back of Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl. Against the Calgary Flames later that night, MacKinnon had three primary assists to get to 83 points. And on Friday, Draisaitl and MacKinnon went head to head.

Draisaitl had two goals to reach 83 points. As for MacKinnon? He put up another three helpers and added a goal to enter the break with 87 points.

Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and MacKinnon combined for nine points. The trio will be teammates with Connor McDavid at the 4 Nations Faceoff. McDavid was held off the scoresheet and was a -3.

Catch Colleen Flynn’s 10 Observations from the 5-4 Avalanche victory.

Around the NHL

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Crosby again didn’t play for Pittsburgh, missing his second straight game. Hockey Canada is putting the decision in his hands on if he wants to play for Team Canada. Crosby’s decision should come by Monday.

Saturday Headlines: Crosby/Hughes to make their 4 Nations decisions
Tarasenko, Nelson, B. Schenn, Donatohttps://t.co/EzUiZqVm5R

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 9, 2025

Without Crosby, the Penguins put up a helluva fight against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Vegas Hockey Now: We finally have confirmation that Doughty will replace Alex Pietrangelo for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Faceoff.

Ottawa Hockey Now: The Sens enter the break on a three-game losing streak. They’ve fallen from third in the Atlantic Division into the wildcard race.

San Jose Hockey Now: The Sharks hosted the Dallas Stars on Saturday, which means returns for both Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci after being traded a week earlier.

San Jose was embarrassed by Granlund and the Stars.

NYI Hockey Now: Mathew Barzal undergoes a knee procedure. Here’s how long he’s expected to be out.

New Jersey Hockey Now: In their final game before the 4 Nations Faceoff, the Devils got a shutout over the Habs thanks to former Montreal netminder Jake Allen.

Chicago Hockey Now: Winter Classic Revenge is not in the cards for the Blackhawks.