ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche’s representative at the NHL All-Star Game over the weekend in Los Angeles, was driven here Monday to join his teammates for Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. He was to bus back to L.A. afterward with his teammates, who play the Kings today at the Staples Center.
MacKinnon has been in Southern California since Thursday, the first day of the all-star break. In his first experience at the mid-season classic, MacKinnon didn’t fare well in the skills competition Saturday or score in the Central Division’s 10-3 loss to the Pacific Division in the 3-on-3 format semifinals Sunday. But he did have fun.
“I’m really happy with how it went. It was a great time,” MacKinnon said before Tuesday’s game. “I wouldn’t change a thing, for sure.”
MacKinnon, 21, lost badly to the recently turned 20-year-old Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers in a fastest-skater competition Saturday. McDavid went on to win the event.
“Honestly, I didn’t really know what was going on,” MacKinnon said of his first-round loss. “I thought it was just a lap (not tight turns) and I think Kralbet I left late too. And the strategy to it, you got to come in wide and I came in tight. But he’s fast. He’s not a bad guy to lose to. We’re both in the same boat (with the rules).”
Notable
With forward Rene Bourque and defenseman Tyson Barrie back from lower-body injuries, Colorado had to scratch two players and forward John Mitchell and defenseman Fedor Tyutin were the odd-men out against the Ducks. Tyutin, who practiced Monday, was a late injury scratch. Patrick Wiercioch originally was pegged to be a healthy scratch, but be played. Barrie was paired with Francois Beauchemin and Bourque played left wing with center Joe Colborne and Blake Comeau. … Scouts from 10 NHL teams were credentialed for Tuesday’s game: the Bruins, Blackhawks, Devils, Oilers, Red Wings, Capitals, Lightning, Blues, Sabres and the expansion Vegas Golden Knights.
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