MacKinnon’s Game-Winning Goal
As noted, the Colorado Avalanche’s opening game against the Blackhawks was a 6-3 win. However, it should never have been as close as that. Close to the midway mark of the second period, the Avalanche were up 5-0. We all thought we were looking at a blowout.
Well, instead we got a scare of the 48-Point Lost Season. After scoring five straight, Colorado allowed the Blackhawks to score two in the second period.
Eventually they scored a third goal in the third period. That made the fourth goal of the game the winner. That was a Nathan MacKinnon goal, which occurred early in the second.
MacKinnon takes possession of the puck in his own zone and drives toward the Hawks zone. He passes the puck to Gabriel Landeskog, who takes the shot. Anton Forsberg makes the save. However, Landeskog regains possession and bats it across the slot to MacKinnon.
MacKinnon buries the puck past Forsberg:
The goal put the Avalanche up 4-0, and it stood as the eventual game winner.