Mackinnon airs frustration

Avalanche ousted from playoffs by Knights

“There’s always next year, that’s all we talk about I feel like, but I’m going into my ninth year next year and I haven’t won (squat).” Nathan Mackinnon

Nathan Mackinnon couldn't hide his extreme frustration after being eliminated from the NHL playoffs on Thursday.

The Colorado Avalanche star made some blunt remarks in his media session following a 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights that clinched the second-round series 4-2.

"There's always next year, that's all we talk about I feel like, but I'm going into my ninth year next year and I haven't won (squat)," Mackinnon said, using a word that isn't rated PG. "So I'm definitely motivated and it just sucks losing four in a row to a team. It felt like last year was our first real chance to win and this year I thought we were the best team in the league but for whatever reason we couldn't get it together. I'm sure in training camp next year we'll figure it out, dissect things and come back better."

Mackinnon had 15 points in 10 playoff games to put him in a tie for second in league scoring after two rounds. He also had a terrific regular season, putting up 65 points in 48 games to earn a Hart Trophy nomination for the league's most valuable player.

But during his eight seasons in Denver, his teams have missed the playoffs three times and never advanced past the second round.

The 25-year-old from Cole Harbour did his best to lead the Avalanche in Game 6 against the Golden Knights, setting up two of the Avalanche goals.

"Game 2 I thought we got outplayed in the last 40 minutes and then they put us on our heels on the next two on the road here but I thought Games 5 and 6 we outplayed them. I thought they outplayed us three games and we outplayed them three games," he said. "It's just unfortunate we couldn't bury a tying goal tonight. We had so many so looks, so many chances. I thought we really dominated tonight. But they're a great team and they just put us on our heels in Games 3 and 4, and for whatever reason we couldn't shake that off. It just sucks."

The Golden Knights will now face the Montreal Canadiens in the third round and the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders will square off in the other semifinal.