Sure, the Colorado Avalanche didn't have the greatest first half, but the defending Stanley Cup champions won seven of their final eight games prior to the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend, and MacKinnon believes they have another run in them.
"I think we can win it again," MacKinnon said. "I feel confident, so that's the goal."
The Avalanche (27-18-3), one point behind the Calgary Flames for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and holding three games in hand, will come out of the break with a three-game road trip that begins at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, ATTSN-PT, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW). Defenseman Cale Makar said they can enter the second half drawing on the confidence they gained during their Cup run last season.
"We knew most of the team was returning, and we're capable of doing that again," Makar said. "It's just putting all the pieces together. For us, it's not so much focusing on knowing that we can do it, it's just trying to get back to the level that we know we can play consistently."
Colorado was certainly consistent in its final eight games before the break, outscoring its opponents 33-15 and going 17-for-19 on the penalty kill.
"There are a lot of good teams and a lot of hungry teams to win, and we know it's not easy," forward Mikko Rantanen said. "There aren't many teams that won back-to-back championships]. It's probably harder than it was last year, but we're ready for the task and we still have a good team.
"We won seven of the last eight games, so we're trending in the right direction. Now the guys are well rested. Hopefully get a couple of guys back from the injury list after the break and get back at it, but I like the trend we're [on]."
Though players don't like to use injuries as an excuse, the Avalanche have had some big ones this season. Forward
[Gabriel Landeskog
has yet to play this season and has missed more than the projected 12 weeks coming off arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 18. Defenseman Josh Manson has been out since Dec. 1 with a lower-body injury, and defenseman Bowen Byram (lower body) last played on Nov. 4. Forward Darren Helm (lower body) has been out since Jan. 12 after missing the first 35 games of the season because of a hip injury, and forward Valeri Nichushkin (upper body) hasn't played since Jan. 24.
As a result, it's easy to see what would help the Avalanche the most during the second half.
"Just health, yeah," MacKinnon said. "I'll use it as an excuse, I guess, but when guys are hurt, it's like they were traded away for nothing, so we could use those guys back."
Byram and Nichushkin will return Tuesday, and Manson will travel to Pittsburgh. Landeskog is in Denver and skating under the Avalanche's observation. Helm skated in a red, no-contact jersey prior to practice Monday and status is up in the air, but there's certainly more positive news than negative on the injury front.
The Avalanche aren't exactly where they want to be, but they're getting there, and looking to reach the pinnacle again.
"Obviously, a lot of ups and downs through the first part of the season but this is the way it goes," Makar said. "Unfortunately for us, a lot of injuries and stuff, but right now, for us as a team, it's just trying to focus on consistency. We went into the break with a good mindset. Hopefully the break is only going to help us."
NHL.com Editor-In-Chief Bill Price and independent correspondent Ryan Boulding contributed to this report
