Nathan MacKinnon's childhood idol and role model has turned into a training partner and an offseason neighbor back home in the Halifax area of their native Nova Scotia. One of his closest friends, too.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 22 saves and the Avalanche came to life Wednesday night in a victory against the Devils at Ball Arena.

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists as the Colorado Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1 in Denver on Wednesday night.

The Colorado Avalanche traded for the best friend of one of its top centers. No, not Now, just like Nathan MacKinnon and Crosby last month at the 4 Nations Face-Off, they finally get to play together.

Nathan MacKinnon had two power-play goals and an assist, Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 shots against his former team and the Colorado Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1 on Wednesday night. Artturi Lehkonen,

Coyle was traded to Colorado from Boston for Casey Mittelstadt, Will Zellers and a second-round selection, Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period reports Friday. Coyle will likely slot into the third spot at center with Nathan MacKinnon and Brock Nelson at the top two spots.

Read the recent NHL news and rumors about Nathan MacKinnon for fantasy hockey. Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon tallied three points during their 5-1

Valeri Nichushkin completed a hat trick with an empty-net score after Nathan MacKinnon knocked in the go-ahead goal with 4:15 remaining and the Colorado Avalanche rallied from two goals down to beat t

The top pick in 2013, MacKinnon, 29, also is on the precipice of becoming the first player in his draft class to reach 1,000 points (362 goals, 637 assists). The next closest is Florida center Aleksander Barkov — the second overall pick — with 771 points.

NEW YORK — Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon, Nashville Predators centre Steven Stamkos and Washington Capitals right-wing Tom Wilson were named the NHL’s three stars of the week.