Nathan MacKinnon is in a tight race for the Hart Trophy (MVP), but the Colorado Avalanche center likely added another bullet point to his strong résumé on Wednesday night.

Logs second-period tally

The Colorado Avalanche put up a short performance against division rival Minnesota Wild in their fourth of a five-game homestand. Nathan MacKinnon scores Colorado's lone goal in the 3-1 loss.

Missing this many games all but eliminates him from contention no matter how well he has played or how much he has produced this season.

Nathan MacKinnon, the NHL leader in points ... Without some key players, including captain Jared Spurgeon and leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota played a solid road game after allowing six goals to the Avs in St. Paul on Jan. 9.

“We’ve got to help him out more.” Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno, front left, passes the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, back left, and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game ...

Minnesota has gone 27-15-4 overall with a 9-6-2 record against ... The Avalanche won 6-1 in the previous matchup. TOP PERFORMERS: Nathan MacKinnon has 17 goals and 56 assists for the Avalanche. Devon Toews has five goals and four assists over the past ...

Yakov Trenin and Brock Faber scored goals 1:35 apart early in the third period, and the Minnesota Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 in Denver on Monday.

“We’ve got to help him out more.” Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno, front left, passes the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, back left, and goaltender Mackenzie ...

For the second time in less than two weeks, the Colorado Avalanche had a chance to gain ground on a wounded Minnesota Wild team. The first meeting was one of the best performances of the season for the Avalanche.

Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl earned No. 1 status on the strength of an outstanding first four months of the season after signing an eight-year, $14-million AAV extension that will almost certainly make him the highest-paid player in 2025-26.

Ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs' game on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild, there are reports of a heavy scout presence in the arena raising trade speculation.