MacKinnon aiming to mirror Crosby’s continued hunger for success

PITTSBURGH -- Nathan MacKinnon is part of what could be considered a three-man core of the Colorado Avalanche, just as Sidney Crosby has been for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Alongside MacKinnon at center, defenseman Cale Makar and right wing Mikko Rantanen round out the trio, which led Colorado to win the Stanley Cup in 2022 and to four straight appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since Makar made his NHL regular-season debut at the start of the 2019-20 season.

To MacKinnon, though, they are a long way from matching what Crosby has had with fellow center Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang for 18 seasons.

“I don’t think we’ve accomplished enough,” MacKinnon said. “Well, obviously, Cale’s obviously the best. But I don’t think me or Mikko are as good as ‘Sid’ or ‘Geno,’ especially in their prime.”

But, right now, it’s MacKinnon and the Avalanche that have shined entering a matchup against Crosby and the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, ALT, TVAS-D).

Colorado has started the season with six straight wins and an NHL-best goal differential of plus-16. MacKinnon has seven points (four goals, three assists) in those six games, scoring in the past three.

MacKinnon and Crosby are well-known friends, each from Nova Scotia, with MacKinnon a product of the minor hockey system in Cole Harbour, Crosby’s hometown. They train together in the offseason.

Crosby is glad to see it’s paid off for MacKinnon, now in his 11th NHL season.

"Obviously, we've spent a lot of time together,” Crosby said. “I think over that time, spending time together, training and talking hockey a lot, it's definitely grown. It's fun seeing him doing as well as he's doing. I know he puts a lot into it."

Currently, Crosby isn't enjoying the same success.

The Penguins (2-4-0) have lost three straight by the combined score of 14-6. They missed the playoffs last season after 16 straight appearances, which was the longest active streak in the League.

Crosby, in his 19th season, continues to produce with six points (three goals, three assists). But he has been on the ice for eight even-strength goals against, tied with Malkin for the second-most among Penguins forwards behind linemates Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust (nine).

“I’d like to create a little bit more,” Crosby said. “Offensively, I think that will take care of itself. Defensively, want to make sure we’re not out there for goals against and giving teams momentum. That’s a work in progress, still. I think it’s getting better.”

MacKinnon, meanwhile, said he has attempted to mirror the drive Crosby has at 36 years old.

“He’s accomplished everything there is to accomplish,” MacKinnon said. “But he’s still hungry for more, which is pretty cool. Something I can relate to, I think.

“Obviously, I’m not accomplishing what he has, but always wanting more. He’s the epitome of that.”

Last season, MacKinnon had two points (one goal, one assist) in his two meetings against Crosby, each a Penguins win.

MacKinnon scored the Avalanche’s lone goal in a 2-1 loss in Pittsburgh on Feb. 7, when Crosby had the primary assist on Letang’s winner at 3:36 of overtime. On March 22, Crosby scored the first of Pittsburgh's three first-period goals in a 5-2 road win.

In 18 games against the Penguins, MacKinnon has 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists).

For MacKinnon, those games are special. Before being selected No. 1 overall by Colorado in the 2013 NHL Draft, he cheered for Crosby when he won the Stanley Cup for the first of three times in 2009, doing so again in 2016 and 2017.

“It’s no secret I was a huge Sid fan, therefore, I was a Penguins fan growing up,” MacKinnon said. “When they were winning and going to the Final, I was 9, 10 years old. Huge fan of the Pens.

“It’s always fun to play in Pittsburgh, always enjoy it. There’s always people from Cole Harbour, always around here. It should be fun. Hopefully we can keep it rolling and get a win.”

Penguins coach Mike Sullivan might look at it differently.

“I don’t know if ‘like’ is the word,” Sullivan said. “If it’s ‘like’ or ‘dislike,’ I think it’s an opportunity for us to get this thing going in the right direction, regardless of who our opponent is. Right now, the most important team is ourselves.”

Despite struggling recently, it’s a team that remains defined by Crosby, Malkin and Letang, just as it was nearly two decades ago.

“I’m hoping it’s where we’re going to go with some of these guys that have been together for seven or eight (seasons),” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Eighteen is a long time. I think it speaks to the character, leadership, ability of those individual players and what they mean and can mean to an organization.

“I think that’s what every team is hoping for when you draft a superstar and guys around him at that elite level.”

Crosby won’t play forever, though. Before the Penguins captain retires, MacKinnon said he’d like to be on Crosby’s line for Canada during international competition.

If it happens, there won’t be a debate at center.

“Not me,” MacKinnon said. “No, not me. I’ll be on the wing.”