Nathan MacKinnon is in a tight race for the Hart Trophy (MVP), but the Colorado Avalanche center likely added another bullet point to his strong résumé on Wednesday night.

Logs second-period tally

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and his NHL-leading 53rd assist of the season to help the Colorado Avalanche rout the Minnesota Wild 6-1 on Thursday night. Mikko Rantanan and Logan O'Connor also each had a goal and an assist ...

“We’ve got to help him out more.” Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno, front left, passes the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, back left, and goaltender Mackenzie ...

The Colorado Avalanche put up a short performance against division rival Minnesota Wild in their fourth of a five-game homestand. Nathan MacKinnon scores Colorado's lone goal in the 3-1 loss.

Yakov Trenin scored against his former team early in the third period, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Monday.

“We’ve got to help him out more.” Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno, front left, passes the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, back left, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game ...

Take Our Poll Mackenzie Blackwood was excellent for the first 40 minutes and Nathan MacKinnon produced a world ... to even after 40 minutes, but Minnesota took control of this one with back ...

Instead, the Avs operated with the urgency of Eeyore. And the crowd wasn’t exactly buzzing either. For long stretches, the only sound was sticks clicking the ice. Close your eyes and it was hard to tell if this was Ball Arena or a Family Sports Center practice.

We just put Nashville behind (us) quickly and regrouped,” Marc-Andre Fleury said, after he tied Martin Brodeur for the most seasons with 10 or more wins by a goalie in NHL history with 20.

Even with that talent, the Avalanche have yet to solve Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, who leads all NHL goalies in wins (28), save percentage (.927), goals-against average (2.02) and shutouts (six). Two of those shutouts have come against Colorado, and he could be back in net after allowing four goals to Utah.

In the hockey-crazed city of Toronto, where anything that the Toronto Maple Leafs do becomes a much-discussed focus of social media, many stories have the tendency to get covered and discussed to death.