Colorado Avalanche 6-3 win over New York Rangers November 20, 2025 game recap: MacKinnon and Makar shine in comeback victory

Colorado Avalanche 6-3 win over New York Rangers November 20 2025 game recap: MacKinnon and Makar shine in comeback victory

Nathan MacKinnon etched his name deeper into Colorado Avalanche franchise history while Cale Makar continued his Norris Trophy-caliber campaign, leading the Avalanche to a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers at Ball Arena on Thursday night. The win extended Colorado’s remarkable start to the 2025-26 season, marking their seventh consecutive victory and 11th straight game with at least a point. MacKinnon’s three-point night pushed him past Peter Stastny into second place on the franchise scoring list, while Makar’s two-goal performance highlighted a defensive masterclass that limited the Rangers to just 19 shots on goal.

MacKinnon makes franchise history in dominant three-point performance

MacKinnon’s brilliance has become the expectation in Denver, but Thursday night’s performance carried extra historical significance. His two goals and one assist gave him 1,051 career points, surpassing Peter Stastny’s 1,048 and moving him into sole possession of second place on the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques all-time scoring list. Only Joe Sakic’s towering 1,641 points stand ahead of the 29-year-old center, and at his current trajectory, MacKinnon could conceivably challenge that mark within three to four seasons.

“He has a great shot, and he’s such a good player in all areas of the game,” said captain Gabriel Landeskog of his linemate. “It’s not always flashy and it’s not always on the score sheet. I think he does a lot of things well away from the puck that doesn’t necessarily get recognized, but I think anybody of his caliber wants to produce offensively.”

MacKinnon’s first goal came with just 27 seconds remaining in the opening period, capitalizing on a Martin Necas rebound after Igor Shesterkin struggled to control the initial shot. His second goal, however, was the dagger that broke New York’s spirit. Just 30 seconds after Miller tied the game at 3-3 in the third period, MacKinnon pounced on a loose puck from a Makar shot that rang off the post, backhanding it into what was essentially an empty net. The goal epitomized MacKinnon’s elite hockey sense and refusal to let momentum swing against his team.

The center now leads the NHL in both goals (16) and points (36) through 20 games, positioning himself as the early favorite for his second Hart Trophy. His 1.80 points-per-game pace would translate to 148 points over a full 82-game season, a threshold no player has reached since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in the mid-1990s. While maintaining such a pace remains unlikely, MacKinnon’s dominance has been the catalyst for Colorado’s historic start.

Avalanche comeback keyed by special teams and depth scoring

Colorado’s victory wasn’t solely a product of their superstar talent. The Avalanche’s depth players made critical contributions that kept the team afloat during New York’s pushes. Brock Nelson’s power-play goal at 2:36 of the third period gave Colorado their first lead of the night, capping a strong shift that also saw goaltender Scott Wedgewood record his first career NHL point with a secondary assist. The goal came on the second power-play unit, proving the Avalanche’s man-advantage attack runs deeper than just their top line.

Martin Necas finished with three assists, extending his season-opening home point streak to 10 games. The Czech forward’s vision created both of MacKinnon’s goals, and his cross-ice feed to Makar at the end of the second period showcased the chemistry developing among Colorado’s secondary scorers. Necas now has 22 points in 16 games, comfortably on pace to shatter his previous career high of 61 points.

“We know we’re getting good goaltending every night, but we’re limiting chances,” Ross Colton explained after scoring the final empty-net goal. “They had like eight shots at some point in the [second], so we’re doing a really good job in the D-zone and we know we have the skill in this room to make plays on the offensive side. If we can limit teams in our own end, we’re going to get chances all night.”

Wedgewood’s performance in net, stopping 16 of 19 shots, continued Colorado’s goaltending stability. While not heavily tested, he made crucial saves during Rangers power plays and didn’t allow a soft goal to disrupt the team’s rhythm. His first career point added a special milestone to an already impressive season.

Rangers show fight but can’t contain Colorado’s explosive offense

New York entered Ball Arena having lost two straight games, and their desperation showed early with an aggressive opening period. Miller’s power-play goal 2:26 into the game gave the Rangers their first lead, redirecting Mika Zibanejad’s clever pass off his right skate at the far post. The goal broke Miller’s scoring drought of just one goal in his previous nine games, providing temporary relief for a forward who’s struggled to find consistency this season.

“The one thing that nobody could ever question with J.T. is his care factor and his try factor. He cares deeply about this team and wants to have success,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “He also understands that this team relies on him in so many different ways, but offensively in particular, for whatever reason, it’s been a bit of a struggle for him to score consistently at this point. So to score two tonight, I think, is huge for him. I think it’ll give him a boost of confidence.”

Adam Edstrom’s goal 3:58 into the second period restored New York’s lead after Colorado had equalized. The 6-foot-8 forward used his massive frame to screen Wedgewood and deflect Sam Carrick’s pass into the net for his first tally of the season. The Rangers’ ability to respond after giving up goals demonstrated their competitiveness against the league’s best team.

However, the third period collapse revealed the gap between these two clubs. After Miller’s second power-play goal tied the game at 3-3, the Rangers immediately surrendered momentum. Colorado’s response highlighted their championship pedigree—they simply refused to let a tie game remain tied for more than half a minute. New York’s three-game losing streak raises questions about their ability to compete with elite Western Conference opponents, especially on the road where they’ve been surprisingly strong this season.

Key moments that defined the 6-3 final

First period breakdown

The opening frame set the tone for a back-and-forth affair. New York struck first on a set-play power-play goal, with Miller positioning himself at the side of the crease for a deflection. Mika Zibanejad’s one-touch pass from the left dot found Miller’s right skate, and the puck banked past Wedgewood at the far post. The Rangers’ special teams looked sharp, and the Avalanche appeared momentarily stunned.

Colorado’s response came with just 27 seconds left in the period. Martin Necas fired a shot from the top of the circles that Shesterkin kicked directly onto MacKinnon’s stick at the back door. The superstar made no mistake, firing the rebound into the open net to tie the game at 1-1 and swing momentum heading into intermission. The late goal proved crucial, as it prevented New York from carrying a lead into the locker room.

Second period seesaw battle

Adam Edstrom’s goal 3:58 into the middle frame showcased the Rangers’ size advantage. On a 2-on-1 with Sam Carrick, the towering forward drove hard to the net and chipped the pass over Wedgewood’s blocker, giving New York a 2-1 lead. The goal highlighted a rare defensive breakdown by the Avalanche, who typically limit such odd-man rushes.

Colorado’s equalizer came late in the period, once again demonstrating their refusal to trail after 40 minutes. Cale Makar took Martin Necas’; pass at the right circle, skated behind the net with speed, and tucked a wraparound attempt just inside the left post off Shesterkin’s stick and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov’s skate. The goal epitomized Makar’s unique combination of skating ability and offensive creativity from the blue line.

Third period fireworks

The final frame belonged entirely to the Avalanche. Brock Nelson’s power-play goal at 2:36 gave Colorado their first lead, a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that beat Shesterkin’s glove. The goal came after a Rangers line change created a temporary 3-on-2 advantage for the Avalanche.

Miller’s second power-play marker at 10:18 seemed to give New York life. He redirected Adam Fox’s point shot at the top of the crease, beating Wedgewood through traffic. However, the celebration lasted just 30 seconds. Makar’s shot rang off the left post, and MacKinnon pounced on the rebound, backhanding it past a sprawling Shesterkin to restore Colorado’s lead at 4-3.

The Rangers pulled Shesterkin with over two minutes remaining, but the move backfired. Makar scored into the empty net at 18:35, and Colton added another at 19:47 to create the 6-3 final. The late goals inflated the scoreline but accurately reflected Colorado’s dominance in the final 10 minutes.

What this win means for Colorado’s historic start

Thursday’s victory placed the Avalanche in rarified air historically. With a 14-1-5 record through 20 games, Colorado became just the fourth team in NHL history to suffer one regulation loss or fewer in their first 20 contests. They join the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks (17-0-3), 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers (16-1 with three ties), and 1927-28 Montreal Canadiens (15-1 with four ties) in achieving this milestone.

“We’re preparing for the worst when we play these teams. They’re all good teams we’ve been playing,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “The Rangers have been an excellent road team. They’ve seemed to really sort of found their stride here recently in their game. They played quicker tonight than some of the video I saw. When our team kind of finds that balance of playing with the puck and making skilled plays, and then also shooting and going to the dirty areas, it seems to snowball for our team.”

The Avalanche’s 33 points lead the NHL, with their plus-39 goal differential also ranking first. Their seven-game winning streak has featured victories over playoff contenders including Dallas, Toronto, and now the Rangers. The 11-game point streak (9-0-2) demonstrates remarkable consistency, especially considering the team has dealt with injuries to key players like Gavin Brindley, who left Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury.

The concern moving forward is sustainability. Colorado’s stars are logging heavy minutes, and the physical toll of such a torrid pace could impact their playoff readiness. However, the team’s depth has shown it can carry the load when needed, as evidenced by wins like their 6-3 victory over Buffalo earlier in the season. The Avalanche’s ability to win in different styles—blowouts, tight defensive battles, and comeback thrillers—suggests they’re prepared for whatever challenges await.

The Rangers, meanwhile, face mounting pressure to stop their three-game skid. While they’ve been one of the NHL’s best road teams this season, Thursday’s loss exposed the gap between them and true Stanley Cup contenders. Their upcoming game in Utah represents a chance to salvage the final game of their road trip before returning to Madison Square Garden. For New York, the focus must be on tightening defensive coverage and finding ways to sustain momentum after scoring goals.

Colorado’s next test comes Saturday night in Nashville, where they’ll face a Predators team desperate to climb the Central Division standings. The Avalanche’s ability to maintain their historic pace on the road will be crucial, as they’ll play 16 of their next 22 games away from Ball Arena. If MacKinnon and Makar continue their current form, and the depth continues contributing, this team could challenge the 2012-13 Blackhawks’ record for most consecutive games with a point to start a season.

The November 20 matchup served as a potential Stanley Cup Finals preview, and the Avalanche sent a clear message: they’re not just beating teams, they’re dominating them while making history. As one of the most explosive offensive performances the NHL has seen this season, Colorado’s six-goal outburst against a quality Rangers opponent reinforced why they\ve become must-watch television and the overwhelming favorites to hoist the Cup next summer.