The Colorado Avalanche have secured a thrilling 7-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, highlighted by Nathan MacKinnon's power-play goal that brought him to 998 career points. Valeri Nichushkin made headlines with a hat trick, now totaling 15 goals this season, further solidifying the team's offensive prowess.

The Avalanche fell behind 4-2 but rallied to score five straight goals, showcasing their resilience. New additions Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle made their impact felt early, contributing to the dynamic play, while Erik Johnson returned to the fold just before the trade deadline.

MacKinnon’s second empty-net goal positioned him just shy of the 1,000-point milestone. Meanwhile, Jonathan Drouin also found the back of the net, marking his ninth goal of the season and demonstrating the effectiveness of the revamped Avalanche lineup.