Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to become the first NHL player to reach the 30-goal mark this season as the Colorado Avalanche rolled to a 5–1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday evening at Grand Casino Arena.

Brock Nelson and Cale Makar each finished with a goal and two assists, while Gabe Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin recorded two helpers apiece. Martin Nečas also found the back of the net for his 16th goal of the year, and Mackenzie Blackwood was sharp between the pipes, stopping 28 shots.

For the league-leading Avalanche (26-2-7), it was their fifth straight win, while the Wild (22-10-5) saw their seven-game winning streak snapped.

Ryan Hartman scored the lone goal for Minnesota, while Jesper Wallstedt turned in a solid performance in defeat, stopping 37 of 41 shots.

Another day another Nathan MacKinnon goal. 🐕

That's 2️⃣9️⃣ on the season for 2️⃣9️⃣. pic.twitter.com/fFdZAt6mz3

— Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) December 22, 2025

First Period

Josh Manson was whistled for interference nearly five minutes into the game after bumping Kirill Kaprizov and sending him to the ice. The penalty gave Minnesota—owner of one of the league’s most dangerous power plays—an early opportunity, but Colorado’s penalty kill stood tall. The Avalanche not only survived the disadvantage but seized momentum, spending time in the offensive zone, where Joel Kiviranta nearly opened the scoring with a slick spin-o-rama that Wallstedt turned aside.

Kaprizov went to the box shortly thereafter for hooking Makar, giving the Avalanche a chance to shake off their power-play struggles. Entering the game ranked 28th with the man advantage, Colorado came close when Nelson rang a wrist shot off the post from the right circle, producing a loud clang. Nelson, who had seven goals in his previous 10 games, continued to be one of Colorado’s most consistent threats.

With 1:32 remaining in the period, Makar found Nečas in the slot, and Nečas snapped the puck past Wallstedt to give the Avalanche a 1–0 lead. 

Martin Necas scores off a pass from Cale Makar! 16th of the year for Necas. #goavsgo@TheHockeyNews

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) December 21, 2025

Second Period

Just over four minutes into the middle frame, Sam Malinski appeared to double the lead with a highlight-reel goal, but the play was overturned after Artturi Lehkonen was ruled offside. The reversal did little to slow Colorado’s momentum, however, as the Avalanche continued to apply sustained pressure. Victor Olofsson followed with a dangerous wrister from the slot that Wallstedt snagged cleanly.

At the midpoint of the period, Jack Drury was penalized for cross-checking Hartman in the face. Hartman went down dramatically, and although Drury argued for an embellishment call, only the Colorado forward was sent off. Minnesota’s second power play of the afternoon again came up empty thanks to another strong kill by the Avalanche.

Moments later, Vladimir Tarasenko was called for interference on MacKinnon, swinging the momentum firmly back in Colorado’s favor. During the ensuing power play, Nečas fired a one-timer that glanced off Wallstedt’s glove. Seconds later, MacKinnon buried a one-timer off a saucer feed from Nelson, blasting it home to make it 2–0.

Nathan MacKinnon one-timer and he scores!!! #29 gets his 29th of the year.#goavsgo@TheHockeyNews

— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) December 22, 2025

Minnesota compounded its problems when Nick Foligno cross-checked Gavin Brindley into Wallstedt after the whistle, earning the Wild a four-minute penalty. The second power-play unit generated movement and chances, though Brindley’s one-timer was swallowed up by Wallstedt. Eventually, Makar capped off the advantage by snapping a glove-side wrister past the goaltender, pushing the lead to 3–0.

Third Period

Minnesota finally broke through just over five minutes into the final frame when Hartman batted in a rebound off a Jonas Brodin pass to cut the deficit to 3–1.

Midway through the period, Kiviranta collided awkwardly with Landeskog, leaving the Colorado captain slow to rise—an unsettling moment given his much-publicized return from knee surgery after spending three years out of the game. Later in the sequence, Landeskog was assessed a holding penalty, but the Avalanche penalty kill continued its flawless afternoon.

Colorado restored its three-goal cushion when Nelson hammered a one-timer off a Nichushkin feed to make it 4–1, extending his hot streak to eight goals in his last 11 games.

The Wild pulled Wallstedt with 3:34 remaining in a desperate bid for a comeback. After several icing calls, the Avalanche sealed the outcome with 2:25 left as MacKinnon deposited the puck into the empty net, putting an exclamation mark on a 5–1 victory.

Next Game

The Avalanche return for a one-game homestand on Tuesday when they square off against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. local time. 

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