from Mike Chambers of the Denver Post,

The Avalanche’s top line of center Nathan MacKinnon and wingers Mikko Rantanen and Gabe Landeskog enter Monday’s game against the New York Islanders with a combined 148 points, the most for an NHL line through 33 games since Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Ron Francis amassed 203 for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.

In addition to Lemieux — who is considered one of the top-five players of all-time — Colorado’s dynamic trio also has ties to the “Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, and three-time Stanley Cup-winning captain Sidney Crosby of the Penguins.

Rantanen leads the league with 56 points and MacKinnon is second with 52. They are the fifth set of teammates since 1981-82 to become the first NHL players to reach 50 points in a season, joining Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (2009-10), Lemieux and Jagr (1995-96), Gretzky and Glenn Anderson (1985-86) and Gretzky and Jari Kurri (1983-84).

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