This is the obvious one. Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL with 68 points, seven more than Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl in second place. Also of note, he’s first in points per game at 1.58, narrowly ahead of the Art Ross winner last season, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov at 1.57.

- Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is shown in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Denver. Makar is back in concussion protocol after taking contact to his head for the second time in under two weeks,

NHL showdown in Winnipeg, Manitoba with the Winnipeg Jets hosting the Colorado Avalanche at Canada Life Centre. Welcome to NHL Predictions here at Last Word on Hockey, where each day we preview and predict the upcoming slate of NHL games around the league!

If Colorado has another trip to Winnipeg this season, it will be during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avalanche will have to hope it can find its mojo from the 2024 postseason.