Coal Harbour’s second favourite hockey player is back on the ice, and in a big way. Up until Sunday’s game at home against the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon hadn’t played since January 30th in Vancouver due to an upper-body injury. Vancouver was the location of MacKinnon’s last away game, a contest which ended in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. As fate would have it, MacKinnon’s first road game back was against Vancouver and it would also take overtime to find a result.

100th Goal for Nathan MacKinnon

A High Scoring Night

Tuesday night’s game was a high scoring endeavour, ending 5-4 in favour of the Avalanche. With none other than freshly healed MacKinnon scoring the overtime winner off of a pass from Tyson Barrie. Barrie had a five-point game, while Mackinnon had four points on the night.

Not only was MacKinnon’s one-timer the overtime winner, but it was also his first ever goal scored in Vancouver. To top it all off, it was MacKinnon’s 100th career goal. To do it in a building which has always held him scoreless, and was the site of a recent injury must feel extra special.

It Wasn’t All Gravy

If you look at the other bench Nikolay Goldobin of the Canucks had a two-point night. Despite MacKinnon being on the ice for more goals against than Goldobin was, MacKinnon clearly made more of a positive difference for his squad.

The Avalanche currently have a 5-5-0 record in their last 10 games. They likely want to improve their record as they sit three places below a wild-card spot. Now that Nathan MacKinnon is back in action there’s hope that he can pick up right where he left off, and continue to be a top producer for his team.

Mackinnon and the Avalanche will continue their western Canada road trip with a visit to Edmonton on Thursday at 9:00 pm EST, followed by Calgary on Saturday at 4:00 pm EST.

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