Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon’s dominant Game 2 draws Jared Bednar applause

The Colorado Avalanche were the best team in hockey all season long, and they are backing that up so far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After quickly sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, the Avs have jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference Semifinals with a pair of three-goal victories.

Game 1 was a bit up-and down before the Avs pulled away in the third period, but Game 2 was a show of dominant force from the Presidents’ Trophy winners. The Avs never trailed over the final two periods in the 5-2 victory and were never threatened late in the game.

As usual, Nathan MacKinnon was a major part of everything the Avs did in this game. He was very productive, finishing with a goal and two assists, but he also made his presence felt with a pair of bone-crushing hits on Wild stars Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy in the third period.

Avs head coach Jared Bednar took note of MacKinnon’s performance and gave him the proper applause postgame.

Jared Bednar on Nathan Mackinnon:

"I thought that's one of his best games of the playoffs."#goavsgo | Powered by: @TheRamosLawFirm https://t.co/gmMLGDdw8K pic.twitter.com/3hpcdEW47b

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) May 6, 2026

“He was unbelievable tonight on both sides,” Bednar said. “The physicality, the defending details, the hunger to check pucks back in all three zones. The speed and pace he played with early in the game, it was like he was shot out of a cannon. I thought that was one of his best games of the playoffs for sure.

“It’s not about production. He’s gonna produce. He’s just doing whatever it takes for our team to win because that’s what he wants the most. It’s not about scoring goals.”

MacKinnon also had a goal and two assists in Colorado’s crazy 9-6 win in Game 1 of this series, so he is up to six points through just two games against his division rival.

Both the Wild and the Avs will now have three days to rest in a bit of a scheduling oddity before Game 3 back in St. Paul on Saturday night. For Minnesota, it is a chance to regroup and make adjustments, while the Avs will be looking to just keep the momentum going.

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