Avalanche defeat Coyotes, close gap for 2nd in Central Division

DENVER -- Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each had a goal and two assists for the Colorado Avalanche in a 3-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes at Ball Arena on Friday.

MacKinnon has 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in an 11-game point streak, and 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in a 19-game home point streak.
"For me, 'Nate' finds a way to become more productive later in the year when the games matter, and that's just his will and want and desire to be successful and mixed with his ability and just the drive he has," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "I find this season to be really impressive because he has] different linemates all the time.
"Some of the years when he was putting up [numbers], he's playing with [
[Gabriel Landeskog
] and [Mikko Rantanen] all the time, and that's what impresses me with him and Mikko this year. We've had them together. We've had them apart. It doesn't matter, they just keep driving things forward and having success, which is impressive to me."
Valeri Nichushkin had two assists, and Alexandar Georgiev made 17 saves for the Avalanche (42-23-6), who have won seven of eight to move within one point of the Minnesota Wild for second place in the Central Division with one game in hand.
"I thought that they had a solid game defensively, but as the game went on I felt like we started to shoot the puck a little bit more, cause a little more chaos at the net, and we got some good looks," Bednar said. "Second period, it really kind of started for me with the scoring chances that I liked, and then we continued it on in the third and finally got rewarded."

Clayton Keller scored to extend his point streak to an NHL career-high 11 games, and Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves for the Coyotes (27-34-12), who were eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.
"Really good team on the other side, playing really [well] lately. They have elite players, game breakers," Arizona coach Andre Tourigny said. "I think we did a good job, impressed by the effort. It's a tough schedule, but the guys never quit. They stayed with it. A ton of respect for the way they competed."
The teams will play again Sunday at Arizona.
MacKinnon gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead on the power play at 12:52 of the first period when his wrist shot from high in the right face-off circle went past Vejmelka's glove.
"He's so fun to watch. I get to see it on a daily basis. Some of the moves he pulls, it's pretty cool," Makar said. "Tonight there were like five minutes left, he does the thing where he places the puck and then skates into it. I like that. It's pretty cool to see guys like him and [Edmonton Oilers center Connor] McDavid do that."

Keller tied it 1-1 at 18:57 when he took a pass from Nick Schmaltz between the circles with speed, deked in on Georgiev, and backhanded it over his glove. Keller has 10 goals and 10 assists in his streak.
"Their top line is dangerous, the Keller-Schmaltz line (with Barrett Hayton). That's a dangerous line," Bednar said. "I don't think they get enough credit for how well they've been playing recently. A big part of their offense, and I wanted to play MacKinnon against them tonight and I wanted 'Val' there."
Makar gave Colorado a 2-1 lead at 6:41 of the third period on a point shot through traffic.
"You see what he does," Bednar said. "He just kind of starts taking over the game when we need one, or it's a close game and he starts to push offensively. He can make things happen on his own and for his linemates. He helps drive that."
J.T. Compher extended the lead to 3-1 at 11:17 on a power play, scoring from the right side of the net off the rebound of a Makar shot from the high slot.
"Guys are just in good spots," Makar said. "You saw on the power play tonight: I shoot one, 'Comph' is obviously in a perfect spot there and picks up the tip and rebound."
NOTES:Makar played a game-high 25:14 after missing two games with a lower-body injury. His 62nd multipoint game is one shy of Sandis Ozolinsh for the most by a defenseman in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history. Makar's 34th multiassist game passed Tyson Barrie for second in franchise history behind Ozolinsh (35), and his 19th game-winning goal passed Barrie for the most by a defenseman in franchise history. … Colorado defenseman Erik Johnson had two shots and three hits in 14:35 after missing 19 games with a broken ankle. … The Avalanche have scored at least one power-play goal in 10 straight games (13-for-32, 40.6 percent). … Keller tied Shane Doan (2007-08) and Jeremy Roenick (1999-2000) for the longest point streak in Coyotes history. He extended his road point streak to nine games (10 goals, six assists), dating to Feb. 10. … Schmaltz has 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in the past 14 games. … Hayton had his nine-game point streak end (14 points; five goals, nine assists).