Colorado Avalanche

MacKinnon enjoying int'l play
May 7, 2017, 6:37 PM ET [27 Comments]
Rick Sadowski
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Nathan MacKinnon is following a disappointing season with the Avalanche with an impressive start for Canada in the IIHF World Championship tournament.

MacKinnon led Colorado in scoring, but he only had 53 points and his 16 goals were fourth best on the team behind Mikko Rantanen, Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog. The 16 goals were five fewer than he scored in 2015-16 and eight fewer than in his Calder Trophy season of 2013-14.

After being held off the scoresheet in Canada's opening preliminary round 4-1 win against the Czech Republic -- Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard had 28 saves -- MacKinnon had a hat trick and an assist Sunday in a 7-2 rout of Slovenia.

MacKinnon never scored more than once in any game for the Avalanche this season. He had two goals in the final 16 games.

MacKinnon also played in the World Cup before the season, for Team North America.

"It's obviously a little different," he told NHL.com. "The World Cup was definitely a fun tournament, but there was no pride behind that jersey. This jersey here, we're very proud to wear it and it's an honor for sure. Not everybody gets this opportunity.

"We all love the game and our seasons weren't great, missing the playoffs or losing in the first round. It's unfortunate what happened, but we were set to be here. We love the game, to represent our country and we're proud to be Canadians for sure."


Four Avalanche players are playing for Canada. Aside from MacKinnon and Pickard, who didn't play Sunday, Tyson Barrie and Duchene are on the team. Barrie had a goal and three assists Sunday, giving him six points (two goals, four assists) in two games. Duchene, who scored three of his 18 goals this season in the final 39 games, has no points and five shots on goal in two games.

"It's always good to be coming over with your teammates and winning this," MacKinnon said. "You can kind of take that back to your team next season. You forget about yourself after a tough year. It's exciting."

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Four other Avalanche players are competing in the tournament.

Landeskog and Carl Soderberg are playing for Sweden, which meets the United States on Monday. Landeskog has a goal and two assists in two games, Soderberg no points on six shots.

Rantanen has two assists in two games for Finland, which plays the Czechs on Monday after a 5-1 upset loss to France on Sunday. J.T. Compher is seeking his first point for the Americans, who beat Denmark 7-2 on Sunday.

Andrei Mironov, the Avalanche's fourth-round pick in 2015, is scoreless in two games for Russia, which plays Germany on Monday.

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The Colorado Eagles, who are the Avalanche's ECHL affiliate, can clinch their second-round playoff series against the Allen (Texas) Americans on Sunday at their home rink, the Budweiser Events Center.

The Eagles have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. They dropped a 4-1 decision in Game 4, ending their winning streak at seven games.