MacKinnon goes into Cole Harbour showdown far ahead of Crosby in scoring

TORONTO – As usual, there’s a player from Cole Harbour, N.S., among the NHL leaders in scoring. This time, it’s not Sidney Crosby.

Nathan MacKinnon is off to the best start of his young career and has the upper hand in the Cole Harbour scoring race.

With eight goals and 12 assists, MacKinnon’s 20 points are good for fourth in the league, while Crosby is tied for 155th with nine points on two goals and seven assists.

“We’ll see how it finishes,” MacKinnon said Tuesday in Toronto. “I’m sure Sid’s going to get pretty hot here. Hopefully not against us next game. … I hope he gets more points than me this year. He deserves it. We’ll see, I guess, at the end of the season.”

The Colorado Avalanche visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night as MacKinnon and Crosby face off for the fourth time. Crosby is a two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP and is considered one of the best in the game, yet it’s MacKinnon’s bounce-back from a sophomore slump that stands out.

MacKinnon is already more than halfway to his point total from last season, something he partially credits to the puck finding him more and getting luckier with it. But that’s not all.

“I’m a little more even-keeled than I once was,” the 20-year-old said, sounding like a grizzled veteran. “My first couple seasons was like a roller coaster. This year just feels a little bit more steady.”

Colorado coach Patrick Roy has noticed not only a more mature approach from MacKinnon but increased confidence. He put MacKinnon at centre on a line with Canadian Olympian Matt Duchene, and the result has been filling a need for speed.

“They’re fast,” Roy said. “They’re a fast duo, and they’re certainly tough to play against.”

MacKinnon is one of the fastest skaters in hockey and a player whose situational speed can create offence. But after winning the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year with 63 points in 2013-14, he had just 38 last season.

Roy said a rough start last year didn’t help the young player’s confidence. MacKinnon says he has some perspective now.

“I know how long the season is,” MacKinnon said. “It’s a long 82 games, it’s a grind. So if you have a tough couple games, there’s plenty ahead.”

Duchene and MacKinnon’s chemistry is improving along the way.

“He’s battling hard, he’s working hard,” Duchene said. “He’s just very tenacious. I think last year (he was) maybe over-thinking a little bit. He’s playing great. He’s been great all year.”

MacKinnon will be a restricted free agent this summer if the Avalanche don’t sign him to an extension by then.

“It’s human nature: You don’t have a contract next season you think about it a little bit,” MacKinnon said. “But not too much thought has gone into that.”

MacKinnon would prefer a long-term contract to a shorter, so-called “bridge” deal that would see him back in talks with Colorado sooner rather than later.

“I want to be here for a long time,” he said. “Most of the other guys that have signed have signed long-term, so I’m sure they’ll want to do the same thing with me.”

“I love playing here, I love the city and the organization, everything like that,” MacKinnon added. “I’ll focus on winning games and making the playoffs and come summer I guess we’ll figure that stuff out.”

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