Hold on to your hats, hockey fans! Nathan MacKinnon just hit a major milestone, but it came amidst a game where the Washington Capitals continued their downward spiral. Did the Avalanche truly dominate, or did the Caps simply crumble under pressure? Let's break down the Avalanche's 5-2 victory over the Capitals on January 20, 2026, at Ball Arena.
Nathan MacKinnon was the star of the show, notching two goals and an assist. This performance propelled him to a staggering 1,100 NHL points, a feat only a handful of players ever achieve. "I just want to feel good every game," MacKinnon humbly stated. "I want to play well, feel good, help the team. In my mind, it could go away any day, so I'm not enjoying [any milestones] right now.” It's this kind of grounded attitude that makes him such a respected player. He becomes only the 10th active player to achieve this mark, and only the second in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history. He also surpassed Peter Stastny for the second-most multipoint games in Avalanche/Nordiques history, trailing only Joe Sakic.
But here's where it gets controversial... MacKinnon's milestone overshadows some key context about the game. The Avalanche, despite the win, had been struggling recently, losing two straight games. This victory was a crucial bounce-back for them. Alongside MacKinnon, Victor Olofsson contributed a goal and an assist, while Parker Kelly and Artturi Lehkonen also found the back of the net. Martin Necas chipped in with two assists. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood put in a solid performance with 22 saves.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar seemed pleased with the overall effort. "I liked the whole game, our effort and mentality and commitment to check the right way," Bednar said. "We took a few too many penalties, but I thought, overall, like really good effort from our team and a good bounce back game from us.”
However, the Avalanche's victory wasn't without its challenges. Forward Valeri Nichushkin was notably absent due to an upper-body injury sustained in a car accident on the way to the rink. Talk about a rough start to the day! "He had some minor injuries," Bednar explained. "Came to the rink, got checked out, and everything seems to be OK, just not good enough to play tonight. Just a little bit of a precautionary day, and we'll see what tomorrow brings for him.” It was described as a "fender bender," but serious enough to keep him out of the lineup. Could Nichushkin's absence have changed the game's dynamic?
On the other side of the ice, the Washington Capitals are in a tough spot. Ethen Frank had a goal and an assist, and Jakob Chychrun scored, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Avalanche. Goalie Charlie Lindgren faced a barrage of shots, stopping 39 of them, but ultimately couldn't keep the Avalanche at bay. This loss marks their third consecutive defeat, and they've only managed two wins in their last seven games.
And this is the part most people miss... Capitals coach Spencer Carbery acknowledged the Avalanche's strength, calling them "the best team in the NHL." But he also felt his team was "right there" for much of the game. "I thought we were right there. I didn't mind our game through 40 (minutes), hanging in there,” Carbery said. "You got to understand, as I dissect this game, that that is as good a team -- it’s the best team in the NHL. So, they're going to give you issues in all sorts of ways. They have some world-class players."
Key moments in the game included Kelly's opening goal for Colorado, followed by Chychrun's power-play equalizer for Washington. MacKinnon then put Colorado back in the lead with a power-play goal of his own. Olofsson extended the lead, but Frank quickly responded for the Capitals. A controversial goaltender interference call negated a goal by Makar in the third period, but Lehkonen eventually sealed the deal for the Avalanche.
"They're a good team. They play super fast. I thought we held our own, but ultimately gave them too many chances," Capitals forward Dylan Strome lamented. "Felt like a lot of the time we were doing a lot to try not to get scored on and not enough push offensively. So, got to move past it, and, obviously, we need to start getting some wins.”
Adding a final interesting note, Alex Ovechkin continues to chase Wayne Gretzky's record for points with a single franchise. Ovechkin moved within four points of Gretzky, with 1,665 and 1,669, respectively. Also, Alex Barre-Boulet made his Avalanche debut after being recalled from the AHL, contributing an assist in limited ice time.
So, what's the takeaway here? Was this Avalanche victory a sign of their return to dominance, or simply a case of the Capitals struggling to find their footing? Can Ovechkin catch Gretzky? And more importantly, will the Capitals turn things around before it's too late? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
