Other than the score, one of the biggest events that took place in the season opener of Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night was Nathan MacKinnon’s fight with Brandt Clarke in the third period. It was a shocking development because fighting isn’t usually part of MacKinnon’s repertoire. I wasn’t the only one who was stunned by the action.
MacKinnon is famously known as “The Dogg” or “Nate Dogg” among Avalanche Nation and the entire NHL community. However, Scotty Gange of 9NEWS took the name one step further.
Gange didn’t say “Nate Dogg” but rather “The Biggest Dogg.” That is pretty ccool and actually pretty accurate when you think about it.
No, “biggest” isn’t meant in the literal sense. It’s really about the attitude MacKinnon brings to each and every hockey game, and in particular, in this game.
MacKinnon, I think, was standing up for teammate Cale Makar, who Clarke took a hit at a short time prior to the fight between MacKinnon and the Kings defenseman. That’s the type of leadership you want from your team. I don’t expect or want MacKinnon to drop the gloves more than he really has to, but to do it once in a while can really set the tone of a game.
That sort of commitment to standing up for your teammates has a way of having your teammates locked in on the objective. There was never any reason for fans to panic about this Avalanche team, specifically during the first game of the season. But that fight could be talked about all season long, and have a big effect on the team going forward. I doubt that MacKinnon would want this but the video of the fight could be played during film sessions just to fire the team up and get them more engaged.
MacKinnon stepping in like he did does a couple of things. Firstly, and most importantly, it gets his teammates fired up and energized for the remainder of the game. Even though it was late in the game, that still applies. Secondly, it gets the home crowd fired up. Ball Arena holds 18,120 seats for Avalanche games. That is naturally going to be a loud arena. Avalanche fans are passionate fans, and they prove it every game.
That game was filled with exciting offense and hardly any defense. It consisted of 12 total goals (8-4 win for Colorado), including a four-goal second period for the home team Avalanche. What I would have done to be able to attend that game.
The Avalanche remain at home heading into the second game of the season, which is on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. Colorado is 5-5 in its last 10 games against the division opponent.
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