The Stars woke up Tuesday morning ahead of Game 1 against Colorado to news that put another feather in the cap of Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon was named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s most valuable player each season. He, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov were the three nominees.
The Colorado forward has been named a finalist for the award four times in his career but never won. The Stars knew the challenge they had on their hands in their second-round matchup with MacKinnon and all of Colorado’s offense, which leads the league in 5.60 goals per game this postseason. Finding a way to limit the Hart Trophy finalist will be key to success in the series.
MacKinnon tied for a team-high nine points (two goals, seven assists) in just five games in the first-round series with Winnipeg. In the regular season, he finished second in the NHL with 150 points (51 goals and 89 assists), setting a franchise record. In the four games against Dallas, he had three goals and four assists.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer praised MacKinnon’s skills, stating, “He’s a great player that’s had a fantastic season. He just imposes himself on the game every time he’s on the ice. He wants the puck on his stick and wants to take control of the game.”
DeBoer emphasized the need to defend as a team to limit the impact of not only MacKinnon but also other key players on the Avalanche roster. The Stars will need to work together to shut down Colorado’s skilled offense and limit their chances in the series.