An early deficit and an unplanned goaltending change wasn’t nearly enough to slow down the Colorado Avalanche.
The Avs continued to mash their way through the early part of the schedule with a 3-1 victory Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks at Ball Arena. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to continue his historic start to this season, Gabe Landeskog had a pair of assists and the Avs are now 19-1-6, five points ahead of the Dallas Stars, and 10 clear of the rest of the NHL.
Colorado now has at least a point in 17 straight games (14-0-3), which is the second-longest run in franchise history. The Avs pushed their NHL-best goal differential to plus-53, and continue to pace the league in both goals scored (106) and fewest goals allowed (53).
That this club is an offensive juggernaut is not much of a surprise. The defensive dominance might be the most impressive part of the machine at this point.
“I’m happy with what I’ve seen, for sure,” Landeskog said. “I think that’s one of the keys to our game, that commitment to defending. That’s where our offense starts. That buy-in from everyone has been awesome from the get-go.”
This game was not without some adversity. Starting goaltender Scott Wedgewood left with 7:32 left in the second period with what the team called an upper-body injury and did not return. Mackenzie Blackwood made 10 saves and collected the win because the game was tied when he entered.
Avs coach Jared Bednar said Wedgewood’s back tightened up, so they decided to take him out. Wedgewood is expected to travel with the team for a forthcoming four-game road trip, but Bednar said he wasn’t sure if a third goalie would go as well.
“Better safe than sorry,” Bednar said. “We’ll just see his injury develops over the next couple days and take it from there. Nothing too serious at this point.”
Vancouver grabbed an early when Linus Karlsson got behind the Avs and was able to deke his way to slick goal just 2:55 into the opening period. The Canucks didn’t create very many dangerous chances after that through the next two periods.
MacKinnon scored his first of the night with 37 seconds left in the opening period. Devon Toews snuck down in the slot and tipped Sam Malinski’s shot from the right point. That was just enough to prevent Kevin Lankinen from handling it cleanly, and MacKinnon was there in the left circle to pounce on the rebound.
Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin, right, pursues the puck with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander and center Max Sasson, left, in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Valeri Nichushkin returned to the lineup after missing eight games, but not to his customary place on the second line. Nichushkin slotted in on the third line, though he did play a part in MacKinnon’s first goal.
The trio of Landeskog, Brock Nelson and Ross Colton had a strong night, and produced Colorado’s go-ahead goal at 13:52 of the second period.
“I thought they were great again,” Bednar said. “That’s why I didn’t put Val on it, because they’ve been really good here in the recent past. The production is coming. (They are) dangerous every night. They seem to have some good chemistry.
“If they keep playing like that, it will stay like that.”
Landeskog fed Brock Nelson, who had slipped behind Vancouver center Max Sasson, cutting to the net for his ninth goal of the season.
Nelson now has six goals and 12 points in his past 10 games. Landeskog also has 10 points (five goals) in the past 10 games, after he began this comeback campaign with no goals and four assists in the first 16 contests.
“To be completely honest, I think it was just a matter of time,” Landeskog said. “That was at least the way I felt, and I’m sure Brock felt the same way. Just continue to put yourselves in good spot and continue to do things right and focus on the little things.
“Those are boring answers, but I think that’s the only way to do it. It’s the only way to break out of things like that.”
MacKinnon struck again in the final minute of the second. He replaced Nelson during a prolonged line change, and Landeskog fed him in the right circle for a one-timer with 34 seconds remaining in the period.
That is 22 goals this season in 26 games for MacKinnon, the second-most in franchise history and easily the most since the team moved to Denver. His 46 points are also the second-most in franchise history and the most since the club came to the base of the Front Range.
Colorado has now outscored its opponents 37-9 at 5-on-5 when MacKinnon is on the ice, an outrageous margin that helps define just how dominant the 2024 league MVP, and this Avalanche team, has been.
This Avs team has 44 points in 26 games. That’s tied for the second-most in league history, behind only the 2008-09 Sharks, who had 45.
“I think we made some mistakes early in the game and they were jumping,” Bednar said. “We gave up three breakaways, partial breakaways, so not really good enough. … Then we started to come around and I liked the rest of our night. I thought it was pretty good.”
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