Scoring more than two goals per period is a pretty foolproof way to win hockey games.<\/p>\n
The Colorado Avalanche continued to bludgeon its way through the opening week of the 2026-27 season with a 6-1 win Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues at Ball Arena. Martin Necas scored twice, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves in a game that didn\u2019t look like a fair fight from early in the opening period.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe things that we liked out of the first game, they were multiplied in this one,\u201d Avs coach Jared Bednar said. \u201cThe things that we didn\u2019t like were so much better.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew they were coming in under tough circumstances, on a back-to-back, and it\u2019s early in the year. You\u2019re not used to playing two games in a row, so we wanted to jump on them. I thought our guys did a good job with their skating and energy, no question.\u201d<\/p>\n
St. Louis played Friday night in Dallas, a promising 4-0 win against the Stars. The Blues look, on paper, like an improved team that can challenge for a playoff spot in the deep Central Division.<\/p>\n
They did not look like such a squad on Saturday night in Denver. Meanwhile, the Avs\u2019 hot start continued after an 8-4 win here Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Kings.<\/p>\n
Colorado\u2019s top line dominated the first period, scoring the first two goals of the game. Cale Makar was on the end of a nifty passing sequence at 4:09. Necas and Nathan MacKinnon, who both had three points, set up the two-time Norris Trophy winner for a layup at the right side of the net.<\/p>\n
Necas scored the next one on a feed from MacKinnon, but that came after the first of two fantastic defensive plays that led to goals from Artturi Lehkonen. The Finnish wing intercepted an outlet pass along the right wall with one hand on his stick to start that scoring play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like when we play good defense, we don\u2019t spend much time in our own end,\u201d Necas said. \u201cWe always have the firepower to create chances offensively. So it starts in our own end and then we go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still without a contract for next season, Lehkonen is off to a hot start. He has three goals and an assist in two games.<\/p>\n
Josh Manson made it 3-0 late in the first period when his one-timer from the top of the zone ricocheted off a Blues player and into the St. Louis Net. Lehkonen\u2019s second sweet stick play of the night made it a four-goal lead.<\/p>\n
St. Louis\u2019 Jordan Binnington\u2019s first start of the season was already one to forget, but Lehkonen swatted the goaltender\u2019s clearing attempt from behind his own goal line out of the air in the slot and had an open net to shoot at.<\/p>\n
This one turned into a laugher late in the second. Nicolas Roy and Necas scored 23 seconds apart to make it 6-0.<\/p>\n
Parker Kelly grabbed a loose puck and fed Roy with a backhanded pass in the right circle for his second goal in as many games. Roy had just eight goals and 25 points last year while playing for two new teams, but he\u2019s a prime candidate for a bounce-back season<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another Binnington misstep helped Necas collect an easy one. The St. Louis goalie couldn\u2019t handle the puck behind his net, and Avs captain Gabe Landeskog, playing in his 800th career NHL game, was there to slide it back in front for a waiting Necas.<\/p>\n After a career-best season in 2025-26 with 38 goals and 100 points, Necas is also off to a strong start with two goals and two assists in two contests.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first game is always a little, I wouldn\u2019t say rusty, but it\u2019s the first real game in a couple months,\u201d Necas said. \u201cIt always takes a little bit to get into it. Now we had a couple days for practice, and we were ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n