Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal and notched two assists as the Colorado Avalanche seized a 2-0 edge in their series with the Minnesota Wild.

What happened?

The Avalanche forward crunched Minnesota's Quinn Hughes and Matt Boldy in the third period.
He downplayed the hits after a 5-2 win in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Why it matters for Nathan MacKinnon

MacKinnon joined some exclusive company with his third straight three-point playoff game.
The only players to accomplish that feat over the last 40 years are Leon Draisaitl, Mikko Rantanen, Joe Pavelski, Joe Sakic, and Dennis Maruk.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar praised MacKinnon's performance, saying he was "unbelievable tonight on both sides of the puck".

What comes next?

The Wild head home for Game 3 on Saturday searching for answers.
They tried a new goaltender for Game 2, going with Filip Gustavsson over Jesper Wallstedt.
The Avalanche still scored five goals, giving them 14 for the series.
That's the most in the first two games of a playoff series since the Calgary Flames had 15 against the Los Angeles Kings in 1988.
MacKinnon was credited with two hits in the game, including one on Hughes that knocked the defenseman to the ice.
He was modest about his offensive production, saying "Just excited to play, playoff hockey, obviously, the best time of year".
MacKinnon's teammates concurred, with captain Gabriel Landeskog saying "Having Nate makes my job a lot easier, for sure".
The Avalanche's speed and pace were too much for the Wild to handle.
MacKinnon's goal was his 53rd of the season, a league-leading total.
The Avalanche's 2-0 series lead puts them in a strong position to advance.
MacKinnon's performance has been key to their success so far.
He has been playing with a lot of speed and hunger, creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
The Wild will need to find a way to slow him down if they want to get back in the series.
MacKinnon's speed and agility make him a difficult player to defend against.
He has been using his speed to create space and get around defenders.
The Avalanche's coach has been praising MacKinnon's performance, saying he has been "shot out of a cannon" in the playoffs.
MacKinnon's teammates have also been praising his performance, saying he has been a "beast" on the ice.
The Avalanche's 5-2 win in Game 2 was a convincing victory.
They outplayed the Wild in all aspects of the game.
MacKinnon's goal and two assists were a key part of their victory.
The Wild will need to regroup and come up with a new strategy if they want to get back in the series.
MacKinnon's performance has been one of the main reasons for the Avalanche's success so far.
He has been playing with a lot of confidence and hunger.
The Avalanche's 2-0 series lead is a strong position to be in.
They will be looking to close out the series in Game 3.
MacKinnon will be looking to continue his strong play and help the Avalanche advance.
The Wild will be looking to slow him down and get back in the series.
The series has been a thrilling one so far, with plenty of goals and exciting plays.
MacKinnon's performance has been one of the main highlights of the series.
He has been playing with a lot of speed and agility, creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
The Avalanche's coach has been praising his performance, saying he has been "unbelievable" in the playoffs.
MacKinnon's teammates have also been praising his performance, saying he has been a "driving force" for the team.
The Avalanche's 2-0 series lead is a strong position to be in.
They will be looking to close out the series in Game 3.
MacKinnon will be looking to continue his strong play and help the Avalanche advance.