The Avalanche's Valeri Nichushkin wins back against the Wild

Valeri Nichushkin made a triumphant return to the ice, sealing the Colorado Avalanche’s victory over the Minnesota Wild with a decisive power-play goal in overtime. The thrilling 2-1 win in Denver saw Nichushkin’s redemption after missing 22 games due to his participation in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. His crucial goal, his 23rd of the season, came at 2:32 of the extra period, securing a vital victory for the Avalanche.

Nathan MacKinnon played a pivotal role in the Avalanche’s success, contributing two assists to extend his remarkable home point streak to 32 games. Additionally, Artturi Lehkonen found the back of the net, while goaltender Alexandar Georgiev exhibited outstanding performance with 29 saves, thwarting the Wild’s offensive attempts. Brock Faber managed to score for the Wild, but Filip Gustavsson’s 38 saves were not enough to prevent their defeat.

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MacKinnon’s impressive home point streak now ties him with Guy Lafleur for the third-longest in NHL history. With the opportunity to surpass Wayne Gretzky for second place looming in the next home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 22, MacKinnon’s achievement highlights his exceptional consistency and impact for the Avalanche.

In another game, the Dallas Stars secured a convincing 6-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, maintaining their pursuit of a division crown. Roope Hintz led the Stars’ offensive charge with a goal and two assists, while Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski also made significant contributions with a goal and an assist each. Christopher Tanev, Mason Marchment, and Radek Faksa added to the scoring tally, supported by goaltender Jake Oettinger’s solid performance with 25 saves.

Despite efforts from Ryan Strome and Alex Killorn, who scored for the Ducks, goaltender John Gibson’s 30 saves were insufficient to stem the Stars’ offensive onslaught. The victory marked the Stars’ fourth consecutive win, reinforcing their position atop the division standings as they maintain a two-point lead over contenders Winnipeg and Colorado.

Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets emerged victorious in a 3-0 shutout against the Seattle Kraken, with Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, and Nikolaj Ehlers contributing third-period goals to secure the win. Goaltender Laurent Brossoit showcased his prowess between the pipes, earning his first shutout of the season with 17 saves. Despite Joey Daccord’s valiant efforts in net for the Kraken, stopping 29 of 31 shots, the Jets’ offensive firepower proved too much to handle.

In Arizona, the Coyotes dominated the Detroit Red Wings with a resounding 4-0 victory, led by goaltender Connor Ingram’s stellar performance, recording his sixth shutout of the season with 28 saves. Nick Bjugstad, Jack McBain, Logan Kerfoot, and Logan Cooley all found the back of the net for the Coyotes, ending Detroit’s hopes of a comeback. Despite Alex Lyon’s commendable effort in goal for the Red Wings with 20 saves, they succumbed to their fourth consecutive loss, extending their recent struggles.

Overall, these thrilling matchups showcase the intensity and excitement of NHL action, highlighting the resilience and skill of the league’s top teams and players.