Denver, CO

Avs crush Capitals behind Nathan MacKinnon’s natural hat trick, four total goals and more history

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

Avs crush Capitals behind Nathan MacKinnon’s natural hat trick, four total goals and more history

On Wednesday night, Nathan MacKinnon presented more evidence that he’s the NHL’s most talented player, and made Avs history in the process.

MacKinnon’s natural hat trick, coupled with Cale Makar becoming the Avs’ highest-scoring defenseman all-time, propelled them past the tired and lackluster Capitals 6-2 and gave streaking Colorado its 10th win in the last 13 games.

“He’s the best player in the world,” Makar said. “I don’t think it’s really a question at the moment.”

No. 29’s feat was the franchise’s second natural hat trick — three consecutive goals by the same player — and first by an Avalanche player since Joe Sakic pulled it off on March 13, 2003, at Columbus.

Oh, and MacKinnon tacked on a garbage-time lamp-lighter in the final period, tying his Avs single-game record from earlier this season with a fourth goal. He joined Alex Ovechkin as the only players in the last quarter-century to have multiple four-goal games in a season, and MacKinnon’s final goal on Wednesday prompted a thong and a bra to be thrown onto the ice.

“Inappropriate,” MacKinnon quipped.

Amid another big night for him at Ball Arena, MacKinnon also passed Sakic’s franchise record for home point streak to start a season. MacKinnon is now at 24 games, besting Super Joe’s run of 23 games in 2000-01. The NHL record is held by Wayne Gretzky, who tallied points in 40 straight home games for the Kings to begin the 1988-89 season en route to winning the Hart Memorial Trophy.

In all, it was another game where MacKinnon made his NHL foes look like AHL skaters. As usual, MacKinnon was ho-hum about his golden performance.

How does he feel about joining, and passing, Sakic in rare franchise air?

“Not much, honestly,” MacKinnon said. “Joe’s a legend, and pucks are going in for me right now.”

After a five-point night to get to 82 points on the season, how does he feel about leapfrogging Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (80 points) atop the NHL leaderboard?

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s 48 games in and I’ve got the most points. There’s nothing rewarded for that.”

And what about another historic four-goal game? The MVP chants from the home crowd whose adoration for him is only equalled by the arena’s hardcourt star, Nikola Jokic?

“I told (our equipment guy) to throw (my scoring pucks) in the crowd,” he said. “I’m not going to keep them, so hopefully people like them. … I’ve heard (MVP chants) before and I’ve never won MVP, so, it doesn’t mean much. The fans are obviously very supportive, but I’m not getting my hopes up.”

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) moments after his hat trick against the Washington Capitals in the second period at Ball Arena Denver on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)

Well, if MacKinnon won’t be boastful, his teammates will do it for him.

“He’s up there (on the Avs’ Mount Rushmore) with Joe for sure, and with (Peter) Forsberg,” said Mikko Rantanen, who also had five points on Wednesday. “With the Stanley Cup we won, that helps his case to already be in that conversation.”

Aside from MacKinnon’s brilliance, Colorado got a significant milestone from its star defenseman, too.

In the final seconds of the first period, Makar jump-started the Avs when he got the puck near center ice off a pass from Andrew Cogliano, blew past a pair of Capitals, and streaked down the center of the ice before burying a wrister in the top left shelf to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.

“It was a sleepy first period by the whole team, but the goal by Cale opened it up for us,” Rantanen said.

The shorthanded score came with 37 seconds left in the period and made more history for Makar, who on Saturday in Philadelphia became the second-fastest defenseman to reach 300 career points, one game short of tying Bobby Orr’s record. Makar’s goal on Wednesday gave him the most goals by a defenseman in franchise history at 76, passing Tyson Barrie.

“I’m very honored (by the mark),” Makar said. “It’s not really a goal I was too focused on, but you don’t get there unless I got guys like (MacKinnon and Rantanen) around me.”

It also marked Makar’s first regular-season shorthanded goal, and his four shorthanded points this year are the most by a Colorado defenseman since Craig Wolanin in 1995-96. The franchise record for a defender is five by the Nordiques’ Alexei Gusarov in 1992-93.

The Avs took further control less than three minutes into the second period, taking advantage of a power play and more poor defense by the Capitals. Rantanen’s cross-ice pass from the right faceoff circle over to the left one found MacKinnon, who had a clean look at the net and the all-star easily beat Washington goal Charlie Lindgren with a slap shot.

MacKinnon was just getting started.

A little over four minutes later, Colorado cashed in on another Washington penalty. Rantanen and Makar dumped the puck back and forth to each other before Makar zipped a clean pass to MacKinnon, who was set up at about the exact same spot as his first goal. The result was the same, a slap shot that beat Lindgren on the left side, and the Avs were in complete command at 3-0.

“That was a pretty similar goal (to the first one),” Rantanen said. “When you get those goals, and the confidence is high… it just snowballs from there. We were moving the puck around and finding the open guy, and tonight it was Nate.”

But MacKinnon, amid his phenomenal season, wasn’t done as he tied the franchise record for goals in a period.

In a two-on-one break, Rantanen assisted MacKinnon, who slowed down right in front of the net and put home a backhanded goal to the top left shelf as Lindgren sprawled in vain on the ice. A flurry of hats rained onto the ice to commemorate MacKinnon’s eighth career hat trick, and second this season after tallying a Colorado-record four goals in the Avs’ win over Ottawa on Dec. 21.

“(Rantanen) was playmaking so well tonight, and looking for me,” MacKinnon said. “On my third goal, that was a really nice pass on the two-on-one. It was really selfless hockey from Mikko.”

The Capitals finally got on the board almost halfway through the third period, when Dylan Strome scored off a loose puck in the front of the net, beating Alexandar Georgiev to negate the shutout.

But Rantanen responded for Colorado a few minutes later by knocking in a deflection in the front of the net, and then MacKinnon’s wrist shot through traffic in four-on-four action capped his seventh career five-point game. Washington scored a four-on-four goal a few minutes later, but it made no difference to the raucous home crowd.

And to his head coach, MacKinnon’s other-worldly effort left Jared Bednar at a loss for words again, while he simultaneously appreciated the forward’s lack of excitement for his individual achievements.

“He couldn’t surprise me at this point,” Bednar said. “That’s just where he’s at. He’s that good. Look at what he does at a nightly basis. What (more) am I going to say?

“And deep down, all the true competitors have (his mentality). It’s not about what he’s done tonight or what he did two years ago or last year, or this year to this point. It’s about trying to win again. His focus is on the end game (of another Stanley Cup).”

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Denver, CO

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Published

11 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Every Opening and Closing This Week: Six Spots Debuted

Paperboy has opened its first location outside of Texas.

Paperboy

Denver is a city that loves to brunch and now, one of Austin’s top daytime spots has opened a location in the West Highland neighborhood. Paperboy’s third outpost is its first outside of its home state of Texas. The concept, which founder Rynan Harms started in a food trailer, has taken over the former home of Rooted Craft American Kitchen (and FNG before that).

“We love this neighborhood because it’s still close to downtown but has its own unique and relaxed vibe,” says Robert Brown, Harms’ longtime business partner, who has lived in Denver for nearly a decade. “People know their neighbors, they show up to community events, they’re invested in this place in a way that feels increasingly rare. That sense of connection is something Paperboy has always tried to foster, and we’re honored to be a part of it here in Denver.”

The menu includes staples such as the chicken and biscuit drizzled with spicy honey; Texas Hash with roasted pork, sweet potato, onion, kale, poached egg and pecan mole; and the Paperboy Pancake, described as “a cake-forward cornmeal pancake that still manages to be impossibly fluffy.”

martini on a table in front of a bar — FiNO’s martini is made with pickled tomato water.

Also now open is FiNO, the restaurant inside the revamped All Inn Hotel on East Colfax. We enjoyed our first meal there; if you’re planning to visit, don’t miss the signature martini, the Medi Nachos and the caper-studded charred cabbage.

On East Sixth Avenue, the powerhouse duo behind the city’s best new barbecue restaurant, Riot BBQ, has debuted Chicken Riot in the former Truffle Cheese Shop space. Meanwhile, the former Whiskey Biscuit in Englewood is now the Barn, a neighborhood eatery from a pair of longtime hospitality pros, including former Brider chef Chase Devitt.

Taqueria Los Gallitos has expanded once again, adding an eighth location in the former Taco John’s near the shuttered Denver Merchandise Mart.

And just in time for the Rockies home opener on Friday, April 3, McGregor Square has opened its revamped food hall. The former Milepost Zero moniker is out. Now, the space is dubbed McGregor Square Food & Drink and includes six food stalls from local eateries: Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta, C Burger, G-Que BBQ, High Point Creamery, TaCo! and Tora Ramen.

There’s just one closure to report this week: Ballyhoo Table & Stage, which actually shuttered last month after an eviction notice was posted.

In other openings and closings news:

chicken club sandwich — A chicken club is one of the sandwiches on off at the Barn.

Here’s the complete list of restaurants and bars that opened and closed this week*:

Openings

The Barn South Broadway, 3299 South Broadway, Englewood
Chicken Riot, 2906 East Sixth Avenue
FiNO, 3015 East Colfax Avenue
McGregor Square Food & Drink, 1601 19th Street
Paperboy, 3940 West 32nd Avenue
Taqueria Los Gallitos, 5810 Logan Street

Closures

Ballyhoo Table & Stage, 3300 Tejon Street

*Or earlier and not previously reported.

Know of something we missed? Email cafe@westword.com.

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Denver, CO

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Published

23 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Preview: Spirit Prepares for First Match Against Denver Summit FC, Another Record Crowd

Denver, Colo. (03/27/2026) – In front of another expected record-breaking crowd, the Washington Spirit is set to take on Denver Summit FC in the side’s inaugural home match at Empower Field at Mile High. With over 60,000 tickets already distributed, the match is poised to break the NWSL attendance record of 40,091 set last summer when the Spirit visited Bay FC at San Francisco’s Oracle Park. Kicking off at 2 p.m. EDT, the match will broadcast nationally on CBS.

The Spirit

Washington comes into this weekend’s fixture off a difficult 1-1 home draw with Utah Royals FC earlier this week. After scoring in the 18th minute, the Spirit nearly earned its first victory of 2026 but conceded an equalizer late and had to settle for a single point on the table. Washington’s goal was scored by midfielder Rebeca Bernal, the Mexican star’s first since transferring to the NWSL last year.

Saturday afternoon’s match will mark the first-ever meeting between the Spirit, one of the NWSL’s original clubs, and 2026 expansion side Denver Summit FC. Denver will be the 17th different opponent for Washington across its regular season history: the Spirit has played against 13 active clubs (all except expansion sides Denver and Boston) as well as defunct clubs the Boston Breakers, FC Kansas City and the Western New York Flash.

The Spirit has had success against expansion sides as of late, tallying 11 wins in 15 matches against NWSL clubs in their first season of competition since the start of the 2021 campaign. In 2024, the Spirit went a perfect 5-0-0 against Bay FC and Utah Royals FC, outscoring the teams 10-3 with a playoff win to boot. In 2022, Washington earned a 1-3-0 record against Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC and, in 2021, the eventual NWSL champions went an impressive 5-1-0 against Kansas City and Racing Louisville FC.

This weekend’s matchup at Empower Field at Mile High, home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, is set to shatter the NWSL’s single match attendance record with over 60,000 tickets already distributed. The Spirit has also been the visiting team for two of the league’s previous three record-setting attendances: 34,130 fans at Seattle’s Lumen Field when the Spirit took on the Reign and 40,091 in the stands at San Francisco’s historic Oracle Park to watch Washington play Bay FC.

Washington is in good standing in several attacking categories through three matches despite two draws and a loss. The Spirit remains first in the league in rate of possession at nearly 62% and top three in both shots and shots on target with 49 and 17, respectively. With just three goals through three matches, look for the Spirit attack to continue getting attempts on frame this weekend.

Following Saturday’s match, the Spirit will hit the road again next weekend for an away match against Bay FC in San Jose on Sunday, April 5. Washington’s next home match will be on Friday, April 24 at 8 p.m. EDT when the side hosts the defending Shield winner Kansas City Current at Audi Field. Information on tickets can be found HERE.

The Opponent

Denver Summit FC opened its inaugural season with three straight away matches, collecting a win, a loss and a draw to carry four points into its home opener this weekend. Summit FC dropped its first match to Bay FC 1-2 before drawing Orlando 1-1 and beating Gotham 2-0.

Summit FC is led in scoring by star German forward Melissa Kössler who has three goals in three matches, scoring once in each contest. With a goal tomorrow, the forward would join Alex Morgan as just the second player in league history to score in each of her first four matches with a club. Look for the Spirit defending third to place an emphasis on limiting chances to Kössler on Saturday afternoon.

Denver has only allowed one goal across its last 240 minutes of action after giving up two in the first 30 minutes of the side’s opener. The strong recent form of Summit FC’s defending third against the Spirit attacking third’s ability to generate chance after chance will be a point to watch this weekend.

Three former Spirit players are currently on the Summit FC roster as midfielders Meg Boade and Jordan Baggett and defender Camryn Biegalski signed with the side ahead of this season. Baggett spent four years with the Spirit after being drafted by the side in 2019 while Biegalski signed with Washington in 2021 and played three seasons, both winning the 2021 NWSL Championship with the team. Boade spent the first half of the 2025 season in DC as a short-term injury replacement, even scoring a goal for the Spirit.

Following tomorrow’s match, Denver will travel to Seattle to face Reign FC on Saturday, April 4.

All-Time Series History

This weekend’s match will be the first-ever meeting between the Spirit and Denver Summit FC.

About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012 and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Denver, CO

Jazz List 8 Players on Injury Report vs. Nuggets

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Jazz List 8 Players on Injury Report vs. Nuggets

The Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets are tipping off their second-to-last meeting of the 2025-26 season on Friday in the Mile High, where for the Jazz in particular, they’ll be dealing with several injuries headed into the matchup that’ll make them shorthanded once again.

Here’s what to expect on the injury front for both the Jazz and Nuggets on Friday night:

Utah Jazz Injury Report

OUT – Isaiah Collier (hamstring)

OUT – Keyonte George (hamstring)

OUT – Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee)

OUT – Walker Kessler (shoulder)

OUT – Lauri Markkanen (hip)

OUT – Jusuf Nurkic (nose)

PROBABLE – Kyle Filipowski (illness)

OUT – Blake Hinson (two-way)

It’s a lot of the same for the Jazz when looking back at some of their recent injury reports, but there’s also some good news to note as well.

Second-year big man Kyle Filipowski, specifically, is trending up to play in Denver after dealing with an illness against the Washington Wizards; an issue that kept him sidelined for one game and left the Jazz’s frontcourt notably shorthanded for what would be a double-digit loss.

During his post-All-Star stretch, Filipowski has been averaging 13.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, along with 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks through 11 games.

He’s slotted in primarily as the Jazz’s starting center since both Walker Kessler and Jusuf Nurkic have been out with season-ending injuries, and has shown some nice flashes throughout.

Mar 23, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski (22) controls the ball during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images | Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

However, outside of getting Filipowski back in the mix, the Jazz will still be without second-year guard Isaiah Collier, who continues to deal with hamstring soreness, and will also continue to be down Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen with their extended absences.

It remains to be seen if any of the latter two will be able to return at some point this season, but now with less than 10 games to go on the calendar before the offseason officially hits, the chances of either Markkanen or George coming back keep getting slimmer and slimmer.

For the extent either remains out, expect to see a good chunk of Ace Bailey being the primary scoring option as he has through his recent slate of games, along with an expanded role for their two-way and 10-day players down the bench who have gotten more minutes in recent weeks.

Denver Nuggets Injury Report

OUT – David Roddy (two-way)

OUT – KJ Simpson (two-way)

As for the Nuggets, their injury slate remains clean. The only names out will be a pair of their two way signings in David Roddy and KJ Simpsons, while the rest of their roster is slated to be active.

It’s a major change from what the Nuggets have been used to all season when factoring in their several injuries to key players lasting multiple weeks.

Nikola Jokic, Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, and Peyton Watson have all missed significant time at one point or another this season, but against Utah, they’ll have all systems go as they roll into the game on a three-game win streak.

Tip-off between the Jazz and Nuggets lands at 7 p.m. MT in Ball Arena.

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