![MacKinnon records hat trick, Avs beat Blues 6-3 in Game 2](https://www.clickondetroit.com/resizer/5NJS28Nwt-vVEpR2Axk3DEpAkCo=/800x517/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JIXMW3LFXZEWDLIFJ2QUUWSOWI.jpg)
MacKinnon records hat trick, Avs beat Blues 6-3 in Game 2
Nathan MacKinnon finished his first career playoff hat trick with an empty-net goal to help the Colorado Avalanche pull away late for a 6-3 win over St. Louis in Game 2 after the Blues avoided a pregame virus scare that nearly sidelined several players.
![Hats off: Donskoi scores 3 in 1st, Avs beat Coyotes 9-3](https://www.clickondetroit.com/resizer/-yX_xe2ndKnlSm42qeuGnIF7Eeo=/1600x1009/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L7PYNASEDVFF7KW3YD4QFRLGZQ.jpg)
Hats off: Donskoi scores 3 in 1st, Avs beat Coyotes 9-3
Colorado Avalanche right wing Joonas Donskoi reacts after scoring a goal against the Arizona Coyotes in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, march 31, 2021, in Denver. Donskoi scored three times during Coloradoโs five-goal first period, and the Avalanche beat the Arizona Coyotes 9-3 on Wednesday night in front of a smattering of boisterous fans. โEverybody was fired up and I think we showed it.โDonskoi secured his second career hat trick over a 3:27 span. AdAndre Burakovsky and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare also scored in a wild first period that included Arizona goals by Michael Bunting and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Gabriel Landeskog finished with two goals, Mikko Rantanen added another and Burakovsky scored his second with 3:11 remaining on an assist by Donskoi.
![Makar, Hutchinson help Avalanche force Game 7 against Stars](https://www.clickondetroit.com/resizer/PorowQavkAy-DUaTM4GqeccdjJk=/1600x1067/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QTSHTUOD7ZFBDJ2F56GMLL5P3U.jpg)
Makar, Hutchinson help Avalanche force Game 7 against Stars
EDMONTON, AB The biggest boost for the Colorado Avalanche in must-win game after must-win game comes from an unlikely source their third-string goaltender. Michael Hutchinson stopped 27 shots and the Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Wednesday night to force a decisive Game 7 in their second-round playoff series. He deserves all the credit.Rookie defenseman Cale Makar scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, while Nikita Zadorov and Mikko Rantanen also added goals. Nathan MacKinnon scored an empty-netter for the Avalanche, who staved off elimination for a second straight game to tie the series at three wins apiece. We never thought it was going to be a sweep or an easy series, Stars forward Tyler Seguin said.