10 Takeaways: No Necas, No Problem. Supercharged MacKinnon Led Avalanche in Detroit

Nathan MacKinnon became the first player to reach 40 goals on Saturday, and still has a considerable lead over the rest of the league in that department.

But ever since injuries took both Devon Toews and Gabe Landeskog out of the lineup in early January, the goals haven’t come for Colorado’s superstar centerman at quite the same clip. In fact, MacKinnon had just three goals over the next 12 games, and did not score in 10 of those contests.

In that stretch, the Avs were 4-6-2, and MacKinnon had 14 points. He entered the first of two meetings against the Red Wings without a goal in his last five.

But that streak would not be extended.

MacKinnon had two goals and an assist, and nearly secured a hat trick. He also set up Valeri Nichushkin on a play that Cam Talbot had to make an incredible save to keep out of the net. It could’ve been a far more productive game than it already was.

That was the kind of performance the Avs had gotten from MacKinnon almost every night for the first three months of the season. It’s become somewhat of an expectation — a high standard for the league’s best player. And one he often reaches.

10 Takeaways

1. I liked the look MacKinnon had with both Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen on his wings. It’s usually been one or the other, but the injury to Martin Necas meant Bednar had to adjust.

Bednar has spent years alternating his top four wingers to play in any combination, whether on the first or second line. It’s a nice weapon to have that much chemistry built into your top six. I’d be curious to see if he gives Brock Nelson a longer look with Necas later to build some chemistry there.

The Necas injury forced the change, but it was probably a much-needed refresh to get guys going again.

2. MacKinnon had some comments about this after the game. We’ve all spent a year talking about how Necas and MacKinnon both command the puck, and are both righties. This is something MacKinnon has adjusted to.

“I’m used to playing with two lefties my whole career. So when I pull up on my One-T side, I have two one-time options, it’s nice,” MacKinnon said of his line in Detroit. “Obviously, two net-presence players. It’s definitely a great forechecking line. We had some really good fore-checks, turned some pucks over, and that’s why I scored my second one.”

3. Necas was a late scratch ahead of puck drop. A team spokesperson told me before the game that it was a lower-body injury and that he would be out day to day. That was all Bednar reiterated after the final buzzer sounded.

The Avalanche are not practicing on Sunday, so the next step is to see whether Necas participates in Monday’s morning skate at Ball Arena to determine whether he’ll play in the rematch.

4. Without Necas, MacKinnon set up in his usual one-timer spot on the power play with three lefties around him. Colorado had just two opportunities on the man advantage, but it looked far more dangerous than we’ve seen in a few games.

5. This isn’t to say that MacKinnon is better without Necas. Far from it. But I do think they should play apart from time to time, especially when things start to stagnate, as they have in recent weeks. The injury to Necas was somewhat of a blessing in disguise, as it forced the coaching staff out of their comfort zone of pairing No. 29 and No. 88.

6. The Avs are a better team with Necas. No doubt about it. Let’s hope, for the team’s sake, that he’s back as early as Monday.

7. Parker Kelly has 12 goals on the season. It’s almost crazy to see just how similar Kelly’s stat line looks to Logan O’Connor’s from a season ago. He was basically thrust into that role and has done many of the things O’Connor has brought to Colorado over the last several years.

8. How good has Kelly been? He’s tied with Nichushkin in goals. Impressive.

9. Blackwood should’ve had a shutout in Toronto, had it not been for that bad penalty by Zakhar Bardakov late in regulation, and an eventual power-play goal for the Leafs with just over a minute remaining. It’s nice to see him come away with a perfect game in Detroit.

10. MacKinnon spoke about how, during a playoff series, when one team dominates the other, they often get a response performance from the losing team in the following game.

The Red Wings are likely going to be bitter with that performance. They’ve hit a rut for three games now, and aren’t playing at Little Caesars Arena again until March. I’d imagine they’d want to take that game in Ball Arena to split the season series.