MacKinnon extends home point streak to 27, Avalanche top Canucks

DENVER -- Nathan MacKinnon had an assist to extend his season-opening home point streak to 27 games, and the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 at Ball Arena on Tuesday.

MacKinnon assisted on Artturi Lehkonen’s empty-net goal with 28 seconds remaining in the third period for the 3-1 final.

MacKinnon has 56 points (22 goals, 34 assists) during his streak and is tied with Guy Lafleur (Montreal Canadiens, 1979-80) for the seventh-longest home point streak in NHL history. Wayne Gretzky owns the NHL record for a home point streak to start a season at 40 games (Los Angeles Kings, 1988-89).

“I think he was a little frustrated because they had some good chances,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “I was really happy to see him get it, and as long as he can keep that going, I think it's a positive thing for our team.”

Ryan Johansen scored twice for the Avalanche (35-18-4), who have won two in a row and three of their past four games. Alexandar Georgiev made 24 saves.

“It's a really good team, and we had to play really well,” Bednar said. “That was a good hockey game. It was intense, and both teams were disciplined. It was hard fought. When you're playing a really good team like that and both teams are dialed in, it's going to be a battle. And that's what it was. Tonight, we came out on top.”

J.T. Miller scored, and Thatcher Demko made 24 saves for the Canucks (37-15-6), who have lost three straight.

“I thought we played a good game,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “Probably deserve better, but they made the plays at the end. Did a nice job against [MacKinnon’s line], [Cale] Makar. Those guys are special players, and I thought we did a really nice job against them. It was hard. It's one of those things that we just couldn't score to get the equalizer.”

Miller gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead at 10:46 of the first period, finishing a breakaway with a shot under the glove of Georgiev. Miller went wide along the right boards and cut behind the Avalanche defense before catching a chip pass from Brock Boeser and skating in alone.

“We played some good hockey; they played good hockey,” Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes said. “We had a chance at the end there. The goalie made a really good save on that one late in the third, and then we had a chance on the power play.”

Johansen tied it 1-1 at 2:54 of the second period when he backhanded a rebound past the leg of Demko. Jack Johnson’s initial shot deflected off the end boards and the net to Johansen for the shot.

“Honestly I didn't see it, and it went past two guys,” said Johansen, who ended a 20-game goal drought. “Then I was just turning to try and find it and saw it hit the boards, and just tried to shovel it in there.

Johansen’s second goal put Colorado ahead 2-1 at 1:35 of the third after his shot from the blue line caromed off Canucks defenseman Ian Cole.

“It feels great,” Johansen said. “It's funny because you go through periods and moments and times in your career, and I've been through these before. Then like tonight, it's off the backboards and a bounce to an empty net, and then it's a shot to the net that's off a guy's hip and in.

“You kind of just laugh, and it just kind of reminds you, I guess, you've just got to stick with it and keep going. But it's definitely nice for a couple to go in, and hopefully I can get some swagger from that and keep helping the group.”

NOTES: MacKinnon has seven points (one goal, six assists) during a four-game point streak. He’s been held without a point in just 10 of 57 games this season. … Boeser’s assist on Miller’s goal gave him an NHL-career high 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists) in 58 games. … Canucks forward Arshdeep Bains made his NHL debut and finished minus-2 with two shots on goal in 13:21 of ice time.