MacKinnon Leads the Charge: Colorado Avalanche Blitz Kings to Secure Historic 40-Win Milestone

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Colorado Avalanche have officially cemented their status as the juggernaut of the 2025-26 NHL season. In a high-stakes encounter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night, March 2, 2026, the Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings 4-2, becoming the first team in the league to cross the 40-win threshold. Behind a clinical performance from Hart Trophy frontrunner Nathan MacKinnon and a resurgent Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado reached the plateau in just 59 games—the second-fastest pace in franchise history. The victory not only maintains Colorado’s grip on the Presidents’ Trophy race but also signals a “championship-caliber” resolve as the league enters the final stretch of the regular season.

MacKinnon’s Masterclass and the Road to 100

At the heart of Colorado’s historic night was Nathan MacKinnon, who continued his scorched-earth campaign through the NHL record books. MacKinnon notched his league-leading 41st goal of the season early in the first period, rifling a one-timer past Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg. The goal moved MacKinnon to 99 points on the season, leaving him just one shy of becoming the first player to hit the century mark this year.

“We aren’t looking at the milestones as much as the process,” MacKinnon stated in the post-game scrum. “Reaching 40 wins first is a testament to the depth we have in this room, especially with guys like Marty [Necas] and Landy [Landeskog] playing the way they are.” Indeed, Martin Necas, who has been a revelation since joining the Avalanche, recorded a three-point night, including the empty-net dagger that iced the game. Preliminary data suggests that MacKinnon is poised to shatter his previous career highs, with projections placing him on track for a 135-point season.

Defensive Grit and Toews’ Game-Winner

While the offense garnered the headlines, the game was decided by a moment of defensive opportunism. After the Kings battled back to tie the game 2-2 in the third period—fueled by a power-play goal from young star Brandt Clarke and a gritty effort from debutant Angus Booth—the Avalanche defense stepped up. With less than five minutes remaining in regulation, defenseman Devon Toews pinched into the slot, receiving a perfect saucer pass from MacKinnon to bury the game-winner.

The Avalanche’s defensive structure has been “projected” by analysts to be their greatest asset heading into the playoffs. Despite facing a Kings team desperate to impress under interim coach D.J. Smith (following the firing of Jim Hiller just 24 hours prior), Colorado remained composed. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, filling in for the resting Alexandar Georgiev, made 19 saves, several of which were “five-alarm” stops during a frantic second-period Kings power play.

A Franchise for the Ages

Reaching 40 wins before any other club is a feat the Avalanche franchise has now achieved four times (2025-26, 2021-22, 2000-01, and 1996-97). Notably, in two of those previous three instances, the team went on to hoist the Stanley Cup. This historical trend is not lost on the locker room. “There’s a blueprint here,” said captain Gabriel Landeskog, who recorded a goal and two assists in one of his most dominant performances since returning from injury. “We know that regular-season success is just the foundation. The real work starts in April.”

The Kings, conversely, find themselves in a state of “unprecedented” flux. Firing a coach in March while sitting in a playoff hunt is a rare and risky maneuver. Missing seven key players due to a combination of post-Olympic fatigue and illness—including veterans Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper—the Kings were forced to give NHL debuts to three prospects. While the youngsters showed heart, they were ultimately unable to match the “relentless” pace set by the league leaders.

Looking Ahead: The Pacific Division Showdown

The Avalanche’s quest for dominance continues Tuesday night as they travel to Anaheim to face the Ducks. The Ducks, currently riding a three-game comeback win streak, are vying for the top seed in the Pacific Division. This back-to-back set is poised to be a benchmark for Colorado’s endurance.

As the NHL standings begin to crystallize, the Avalanche have sent a clear message to the rest of the league: the road to the Stanley Cup goes through Denver. With a healthy roster, a record-breaking superstar in MacKinnon, and a historic 40 wins already in the bag, Colorado is not just a favorite—they are the standard by which all other contenders are currently being measured.

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