MacKinnon scores twice, Avs beat Islanders 5-0
DENVER (AP) Nathan MacKinnon scored his first two goals of the season and Semyon Varlamov stopped 40 shots for his 14th NHL shutout, lifting the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-0 win over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
MacKinnon, the 19-year-old reigning rookie of the year, has struggled to get on track this season. He scored both of his goals in the second period, one on a power play - hopping up and down on his skates to celebrate - and the other when he tipped a shot past goalie Chad Johnson.
Cody McLeod and Marc-Andre Cliche also netted their first goals of the season. Erik Johnson added another in the third period.
Varlamov was sharp against the Islanders, one of the NHL's highest scoring teams. It was his first shutout since April 5 at St. Louis.