Nathan MacKinnon, the Colorado Avalanche’s star center, fought Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz during their matchup in Denver, leaving the ice with a bloody nose. According to a Markerzone report from October 13, the confrontation marked MacKinnon’s second fight in five games.
MacKinnon had recorded five goals and 10 points through five games at that point, underscoring his importance to Colorado’s offensive production. The fight raised concerns about the physical risks facing the team’s leading scorer, particularly as the Avalanche worked to recover from a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Hintz, 29, also plays a significant role in Dallas’ lineup. According to Markerzone, he entered the matchup with three points in the season and a salary cap hit of $8,450,000, compared to MacKinnon’s $12,604,000. At the time of the report, Colorado held a 3-2-0 record while the Stars were 2-2-1.
The latest fight followed an earlier confrontation between MacKinnon and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke during Colorado’s home opener. The repeated incidents drew attention given the Avalanche’s dependence on MacKinnon’s scoring and playmaking abilities.
Hintz had faced his own recent injury concerns after Brandon Carlo received a major penalty for kneeing him earlier in October. According to Markerzone, Dallas exercised caution with Hintz following that incident, adding another potential health concern to the physical exchange between the two centers.
Despite the fight, MacKinnon’s early-season offensive production remained strong. According to Sports Yahoo, he recorded three assists in Colorado’s 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on October 5, with Martin Necas scoring twice and Artturi Lehkonen adding a goal. The Avalanche’s top line combined for three goals and eight points in that game.
Against Toronto, MacKinnon scored twice in the first period before the Maple Leafs adjusted their defensive approach. Auston Matthews stated that his team “made some adjustments and were able to keep him to the outside as much as possible.” Sports Yahoo also noted that Necas reached 50 goals as an Avalanche member after 110 games with the team, placing him among the six fastest players in franchise history to reach that milestone.
Key facts
- MacKinnon fought Roope Hintz in Denver, his second fight in five games
- MacKinnon had 5 goals and 10 points through five games as of October 13
- MacKinnon scored twice in the first period against Toronto before the Maple Leafs adjusted defensively
- The fight prompted concern about injury risks to Colorado’s leading scorer
- Hintz had recent injury concerns after a kneeing incident by Brandon Carlo earlier in October