Nathan MacKinnon has done it. The Avalanche rookie set up Andre Benoit for the game-winning goal in a 3-2 overtime victory for the Colorado Avalanche over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday Night. The assist extended MacKinnon’s point streak to 13 games, breaking the mark for longest point-streak by an 18-year-old that was set 34 years ago, during the 1979-80 season.
The Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native has 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points in 62 games so far this season. The first overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, MacKinnon is the odds-on favourite to add the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie to his trophy case come NHL Awards time in June.
The win spoiled a night of celebration in Motown as the Red Wings were officially retiring the Number 5 jersey worn by Nicklas Lidstrom. Lidstrom, who is widely considered to be the best defenceman of this era, retired after the 2011-12 season. He won four Stanley Cups with Detroit, and his seven Norris Trophy wins are second only to Bobby Orr’s eight wins.
This was also David Legwand’s first game for the Red Wings, and first NHL game for any team other than the Nashville Predators. Legwand was acquired just before the trade deadline on Thursday as the Wings are trying to get by without injured centres Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
The Wings lost their second straight game, blowing a third period lead in both of those contests. Overtime was made possible when P.A. Parenteau tied the game for the Avalanche 5:29 into the third period.
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