Avalanche Star Nathan MacKinnon Scores 50 Goals Again

MacKinnon joins elite company with second 50-goal season in three years.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 12:48am

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Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche has scored 50 goals for the second time in his NHL career, becoming just the third player in franchise history to reach that milestone at least twice. MacKinnon is the 16th player in league history to score 50-plus goals in his age-30 season or later, joining the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.

Why it matters

MacKinnon's 50-goal seasons cement his status as one of the league's elite scorers and put him in rarified air among the all-time greats. His ability to consistently produce at such a high level is a major reason the Avalanche have been one of the NHL's top teams in recent years.

The details

MacKinnon scored his 50th goal of the season just 82 seconds into the Avalanche's game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. He had previously reached the 50-goal mark two years ago, when he swept the league MVP awards. MacKinnon is the third player in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history to score 50 goals at least twice, joining team president Joe Sakic and the legendary Michel Goulet.

  • MacKinnon scored his 50th goal of the season on April 2, 2026.
  • He also scored 51 goals two seasons ago, in 2023-24.

The players

Nathan MacKinnon

A superstar center for the Colorado Avalanche who has now scored 50 goals in a season twice in his career.

Joe Sakic

The president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche, who scored 50 goals in a season twice during his Hall of Fame playing career with the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise.

Michel Goulet

A legendary forward who played for the Quebec Nordiques and scored 50 goals in a season four years in a row from 1982 to 1986.

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What’s next

MacKinnon will look to continue his torrid scoring pace and potentially challenge the franchise record of 57 goals in a season set by Michel Goulet. He also has a chance to win the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL's leading goal-scorer for the first time in his career.

The takeaway

MacKinnon's second 50-goal season in three years cements his status as one of the NHL's premier goal-scorers and puts him in elite company alongside some of the greatest players in league history. His consistent dominance has been a driving force behind the Avalanche's success in recent years.