Makar has Epic 6-Point Game to Set Franchise Record

Cale Makar earned six points in the 7-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks, setting a franchise record for most points in a game by a defenseman. The last time an NHL defenseman scored two goals and earned two assists was Paul Coffey on March 14, 1986.

“Tough to find a better player in this league. Playing half the game, doing what he does every night, it’s amazing, it’s fun to see it every game,” Nathan MacKinnon said.

The 26-year-old blueliner’s feat was overshadowed by a mid-game trade that brought forward Brock Nelson to the Avalanche. But Makar is not one to gloat and credits his achievement to his teammates.

Read More: Inside the Locker Room: Avalanche Thrilled With Brock Nelson’s Arrival

“I don’t know if they were really great. It was just kind of mucking it out there, throwing pucks at the net, and guys were getting rebounds, so nothing was super pretty,” Makar said. “The forwards were really rolling. They were finding ways to get to the net. And when guys do that, we just try and get the puck to the net from the backend and they get rewarded. Overall tonight, really good from the forward groups and then the rest of the D as well.”

Makar wasn’t the only player to have a spectacular game. Nathan MacKinnon had five points (2G, 3A) in the win and the Avs tied the Minnesota Wild for the third spot in the Central Division with 76 points.

“They couldn’t miss, those guys tonight. Real good work ethic and competitiveness from those guys. It always starts there if you’re going to have a good night and their skill took over …,” head coach Jared Bednar said about the duo. “So doing the right things that we talk about that you need to do in order to help create offense. We were all over it from the start of the game tonight.”

Makar sits in the No. 8 spot in the league with 74 points and leads all NHL defensemen. MacKinnon reigns supreme in the top spot with 98, four ahead of No. 2 Leon Draisaitl.

The Avs were firing on all cylinders Thursday night, as opposed to the sluggish, sloppy 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

“Last game was tough, and we felt like we needed to play better than that. So coming out tonight, we wanted to start hot. We got it going right away … it’s important, we got to start stringing things together here. Everybody’s winning, and we got to start finding points down the stretch.

“You’re gaining a lot of energy on the bench, especially Kivi’s (Joel Kiviranta) goal on the PK there, that was huge. You obviously gained a lot of momentum. Guys, just when you start feeling it, you get rewarded. And it seemed like guys were really trying to figure it out and go to the net, and that’s when we find ways to win,” Makar said.

The Avalanche have won their last four at Ball Arena and look to continue their home winning streak against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.