MacKinnon scores NHL-leading 46th goal as Avalanche cruise past wobbling Penguins 6-2

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Martin Necas scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon poured in his NHL-leading 46th goal and the Colorado Avalanche breezed past the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 on Tuesday night.

Necas, Sam Malinski and Parker Kelly scored within a 1:55 span late in the first period to break it open as the Avalanche atoned for one-sided loss to the Penguins last week in Denver by returning the favor in Pittsburgh. Cale Makar picked up the assist on Necas' first goal, boosting his career point total to 499. Ross Colton scored an empty-netter late.

Scott Wedgewood stopped 27 shots for the NHL-leading Avalanche, who have won the first three games of a four-game road swing that finishes up in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Egor Chinakov and Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh. Kris Letang picked up the secondary assist on Chinakov’s career-high 17th goal of the season, becoming the 21st defenseman in league history to reach 800 career points.

Arturs Silovs struggled to contain Colorado early and finished with 23 saves for the Penguins, who have dropped three of four to lose a bit of ground in the crowded scramble for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Pittsburgh played without veteran forward Evgeni Malkin, who is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 39-year-old Russian star powered the Penguins' dominant performance in Colorado last week, scoring twice in his return from a five-game suspension.

The only fireworks this time around were provided by the Avalanche. MacKinnon set the tone early, stealing the puck from Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon and then racing in alone on Silovs before flicking a shot over the goaltender's glove to give Colorado the lead 4:57 into the first.

Chinakov tied it just over three minutes later when his one-timer from the slot pushed his goal total since being acquired by Pittsburgh to 14.

It didn't last. The Avalanche erupted late in the period to take a three-goal lead, and the Penguins never recovered. Pittsburgh appeared to get back in it in the middle of the second period, but Justin Brazeau's goal from his belly was overturned on a Colorado challenge after officials ruled Brazeau interfered with Wedgewood.

Avalanche: Start a home-and-home set with the Jets in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Penguins: Visit Ottawa on Thursday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Colorado Avalanche's Sam Malinski (70) celebrates after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates with Martin Necas after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) can't get his stick on the puck in front of Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) with Brett Kulak (27) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Avalanche's Martin Necas (88) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon (29) puts a shot behind Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Filip Forsberg scored a goal and assisted on two others to lead the Nashville Predators to a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night in a matchup of teams headed in opposite directions in the standings.

Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista, Brady Skjei and Steven Stamkos also scored and Juuse Saros made 27 saves for Nashville, winners of a season-high five consecutive games. Jonathan Marchessault had three assists.

Will Smith scored two goals, Adam Gaudette had one and Alex Nedeljkovic made 13 saves for the Sharks, who lost their fifth straight game.

The Predators entered Tuesday in the Western Conference’s second wild-card position, five points ahead of the Sharks, with San Jose having played two fewer games.

The Predators have defeated the Sharks 14 straight times. The game Tuesday night was the first matchup of the season between the teams. They meet twice in April, once in each city.

Saros is 14-2-1 in his career against the Sharks.

Forsberg scored the game’s first goal at 2:34, the first of five opening-period goals for the Predators. Forsberg has five goals and seven assists during his five-game points streak.

Gaudette tied it 1 at 6:25 of the first, redirecting Shakir Mukhamadullin's shot in traffic.

Nashville regained the lead for good 1:24 later on Wood's wrister from the right circle.

Josi’s goal at 11:40 made it 3-1 and Evangelista scored 46 seconds later.

Stamkos snapped a wrist shot past Nedeljkovic from above the left circle at 12:38 of the second with Nashville on a power play.

Smith scored with 2:34 remaining in the second with the Sharks on a two-man advantage and again at even strength 1:40 into the third.

Sharks: Visit St. Louis on Thursday night.

Predators: Host New Jersey on Thursday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

San Jose Sharks center Will Smith (2) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (71) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators right wing Luke Evangelista (77) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg, left, congratulates center Steven Stamkos (91) after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) chases the puck past San Jose Sharks center Zack Ostapchuk (63) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)