Nathan MacKinnon 'Leading the Charge' in Postseason

Nathan MacKinnon is leading the charge.
Ahead of the Colorado Avalanche's First Round Series against the Nashville Predators, MacKinnon didn't gloss over the expectations he set for himself heading into the postseason.

"Everyone needs to chip in, but it's up to our top guys to drive the bus," MacKinnon said on May 2. "That's what we're looking to do."
And through the Avalanche's first three games of the postseason where they currently lead the series 3-0 over Nashville, the dynamic centerman has done just that.

In all three games, MacKinnon has found the back of the net and has done so by providing the game's icebreaker in two of the contests. He totaled five points (4G, 1A) in this postseason alone and upped his career-total to 74 points (32G, 42A) through 53 games. He also boasts a career 1.40 points per game average in the postseason, which is the third highest in NHL postseason history and was tied for the fifth fastest skater to reach 70-career points in the playoffs as he did so in just 51 games.
Among all skaters in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs who have played in three games, MacKinnon leads the entirety of them with 20 shots on net, only Boston's David Pastrnak (24) and Patrice Bergeron (22) have more, but both played in their four game on Sunday afternoon.
"It's an important time of year and it comes from a deep desire to win," Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar said of MacKinnon's consistent production and ability to raise his game even more when the stakes are the highest.
In Game 1 against Nashville, the 26-year-old posted a two-goal and three-point (2G, 1A) performance and was named the First Star of the Game.
When the Avalanche were awarded an early penalty just two minutes into the game, MacKinnon capitalized on the opportunity to set the tone. As Colorado's power play went to work, MacKinnon skated into the right faceoff circle and drilled a pass from Mikko Rantanen to the far side and managed to squeeze his shot just under the elbow of Nashville netminder David Rittich.

MacKinnon's tally was the first of a 7-2 final score for the Avalanche, whose offense exploded with a five-goal first period. He tallied an assist on Gabriel Landeskog's second-period power- play goal and early in the third period when the score was 6-1, MacKinnon notched his second goal of the game. At the blueline, Samuel Girard teed him up for a one-timer, where he blasted a slap shot that took a fortuitous skip off the skate of a Nashville defenseman skate and zipped over the glove of Connor Ingram, who replaced Rittich between the pipes.
In Game 2, which featured the tightest score of the three contests, the Avalanche were under siege early on as Nashville came out with a fast and abrasive start. After being outshot 4-0 through four minutes, MacKinnon deflated the Predators' initial buzz as he put Colorado on the board at 5:25 on the team's first shot of the game in its eventual thrilling 2-1 overtime victory.
On the play, MacKinnon made a sharp read on an unfolding play as the puck was rimmed around the Avalanche's defensive zone and Logan O'Connor was about to get pinched by Preds defenseman Jeremey Lauzon. O'Connor allowed the puck to shoot past him and Lauzon and MacKinnon took off on the counterattack where he sniped a wrist shot short side of Ingram and over his blocker.

During Game 3 and after the Avs had already taken a 1-0 lead, MacKinnon doubled their lead 2-0 in the first period of their eventual 7-3 win. On the power play late in the game, Cale Makar threaded a pass down low to Landeskog at the side of the net. The Avs captain sent a one-touch pass to MacKinnon at the netfront where he jammed the puck through Ingram's legs.
While just a sample size of three games, MacKinnon has been a force for the Avalanche, much like he was in the regular season where he averaged 1.35 points per game. It's a testament to not just MacKinnon's outrageous skill but his drive and determination to elevate his game with the bigger picture in mind.
"He's a man on a mission, it's as simple as that," Landeskog said of MacKinnon after Game 3. "Just like the other 20-some guys in that locker room, we're dedicated to what we're trying to do, we're committed to it and we're hungry for it. He's leading the charge."