MacKinnon inches closer to 50-goal mark as Avalanche defeat Jets 3-2

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Colorado Avalanche's goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) saves the shot from Winnipeg Jets' Isak Rosen (27) as Cale Makar (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

Colorado Avalanche's Devon Toews (7) defends against Winnipeg Jets' Jonathan Toews (19) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP) — Colorado Avalanche's goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) saves the shot from Winnipeg Jets' Isak Rosen (27) as Cale Makar (8) defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

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8:29 PM on Thursday, March 26

The Associated Press

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored his 47th and 48th goals of the season to propel the Colorado Avalanche to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.

Jack Drury scored his career-high ninth goal of the season for the NHL-leading Avalanche, who ended a four-game road trip with a 4-0-0 record. Artturi Lehkonen added an assist in his return after missing 11 games with an upper-body injury.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 shots for Colorado.

Mark Scheifele scored twice and leads the Jets with 34 goals.

Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves.

Scheifele set a career-high in points when his pair of goals gave him 88 points.

Colorado entered the game ranked 27th on the power play, but made good on a big opportunity. Six seconds after a 38-second two-man advantage expired, MacKinnon scored 13 seconds into the third to break the 1-1 tie with the power-play tally. He added his second goal at 3:55.

The Jets challenged MacKinnon’s second goal for goaltender interference, but it stood and gave Colorado a 3-1 lead early in the third.

Up next

The Jets begin a four-game road trip with a rematch in Colorado on Saturday.

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