Nathan MacKinnon Scores 50th Goal of the Season

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche reached a significant milestone on Wednesday, scoring his 50th goal of the season against the Vancouver Canucks at Ball Arena. The goal came just 82 seconds into the contest, showcasing MacKinnon’s quick impact on the game.

Second 50-Goal Season for Avalanche Star

This marks the second time MacKinnon has scored 50 or more goals in a single season. He previously achieved this feat two years ago, also recording 51 goals and earning league MVP awards. MacKinnon is now the third player in franchise history to reach the 50-goal mark at least twice.

Franchise History and Notable Players

Joe Sakic reached 50 goals in both the 1995-96 and 2000-01 seasons. Michel Goulet accomplished the feat for four consecutive years (1982-1986) while the franchise was located in Quebec City. Goulet holds the franchise record for most goals in a season with 57, while Mikko Rantanen holds the Denver-based record with 55 goals in the 2022-23 season.

Rocket Richard Trophy Contention

MacKinnon currently leads the NHL in goals and is a strong contender to win the Rocket Richard Trophy for the first time in his career. The last player in franchise history to lead the league in goals was Milan Hejduk in the 2002-03 season.

Elite Company and Historical Context

MacKinnon is the only active player with multiple seasons of at least 50 goals and 70 assists. He joins an exclusive group of six players in league history to achieve this more than once: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, and Steve Yzerman. He is also the 16th player in NHL history to score 50-plus goals in a season at age 30 or later.

Connor McDavid could potentially join MacKinnon with seven more goals this season. This milestone has been recently achieved by Edmonton’s Zach Hyman in the 2023-24 season, and previously by Sakic in 2000-01.