Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon opened the 2026-27 season with two goals and eight shots on net, but his fight with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke became one of the biggest moments of Wednesday night's 8-4 win at Ball Arena.
With fewer than seven minutes remaining and Colorado leading 6-4, MacKinnon challenged Clarke to a fight. The 31-year-old landed several unanswered right hands before Clarke went to the ice. A fired up MacKinnon then threw his helmet against the boards.
MacKinnon later confirmed that he initiated the bout, saying Clarke had used a word he did not like during an intense game.
Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who had been involved in the sequence that helped escalate tensions between the teams, explained afterward why he would not want to face MacKinnon in a fight.
“He's a very passionate guy,” said Makar. “He's kind of got that extra mode that he can almost turn into The Hulk a little bit. I definitely wouldn't want to be a guy fighting him. He's got good technique and he knows what’s he doing.”
Article Continues Below"I definitely wouldn't want to be a guy fighting [MacKinnon] because he's got good technique and he knows what he's doing."
🗣️ Cale Makar
Postgame availability ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/cAl4eQj5gq
— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) October 1, 2026
MacKinnon's fight came after Clarke had run Makar hard into the end boards in the second period following a stopped breakaway attempt. TJ Hughes responded by taking several shots at Clarke while he was down, resulting in a roughing penalty and a Los Angeles power play.
Before the fight, MacKinnon and Clarke also exchanged several slashes while battling near the Kings' net. MacKinnon's fighting major was only the second of his NHL career, with his previous fight coming back in December 2024 against Utah Mammoth's Barrett Hayton.
MacKinnon entered his 14th NHL campaign with 422 goals, 722 assists and 1,144 points across 951 regular-season games. He has also produced at least 100 points in four consecutive seasons dating to 2022-23. Last season, MacKinnon recorded career highs of 53 goals, 74 assists and 350 shots while winning the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
His production continued immediately in the opener. MacKinnon scored twice in 17:44 of ice time, including once on a 5-on-3 power play, while Colorado finished 4-for-5 with the man advantage. The Avalanche also scored four power-play goals overall but surrendered two shorthanded goals.
Meanwhile, Clarke, 23, logged two blocked shots in 18:57. He entered his third full NHL season with 15 goals and 66 assists for 81 points in 186 regular-season games, along with two goals and one assist in 10 playoff contests.
Colorado ultimately added two more goals after the fight, including captain Gabriel Landeskog's tally that made it 7-4. MacKinnon's two goals and his first fighting major since 2024 headlined an 8-4 season-opening win for the Avalanche.