Colorado Avalanche open season with 8-4 win over Los Angeles Kings as Nathan MacKinnon records two goals

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche began their season with an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena on Wednesday, a result shaped by a high-scoring start and multiple special-teams contributions. Both clubs were playing their season opener, setting the tone for a fast-paced game with Colorado taking control through five-on-five production and power-play goals. Nathan MacKinnon led the way for the Avalanche with two goals. Artturi Lehkonen also scored twice, while Brock Nelson recorded a goal and two assists and Parker Kelly added a goal and an assist. Defensively and in transition, Colorado received playmaking from Jaden Schwartz, Nazem Kadri, Cale Makar and Devon Toews, who each contributed two assists, and Jaden Schwartz’s involvement included setup work that helped create scoring chances. In goal, Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves as the Avalanche built a multi-goal cushion over the course of the night. The Kings scored four times in the loss, including two short-handed goals. Joel Armia and Trevor Moore each finished a short-handed scoring opportunity, with Armia making it 3-2 at 1:28 of the second period and Moore later reducing the deficit to 5-3 at 17:50 of the second. Los Angeles, which was playing its first game under coach Peter Laviolette, also received points from Alex Laferriere, who had two assists. Colorado broke through first on a power play. Brock Nelson scored to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 6:33 of the first period, converting a play initiated by Schwartz’s cross-crease saucer pass. Lehkonen could not fully swat the puck away, and it came to Nelson’s stick, where he shot and the puck deflected off the left post and then the back of Darcy Kuemper before crossing the line. The Kings responded to tie the game 1-1 at 15:14 when Brian Dumoulin scored from the top of the left circle. Dumoulin’s wrist shot went glove side through a screen created by Alex Turcotte, evening the score before Colorado regained momentum later in the first. Parker Kelly restored the Avalanche lead 2-1 at 17:58. After recovering a clearing attempt up the boards from Josh Manson, Kelly skated into a 2-on-1 with Fedor Svechkov and finished with a wrist shot from the right circle just three seconds after a Kings power play expired, turning a brief lull into a timely goal. MacKinnon increased Colorado’s advantage early in the second period with a power-play goal 23 seconds in, making it 3-1. He one-timed Nazem Kadri’s cross-slot pass short side from the left circle while on a 5-on-3. Less than two minutes later, Armia’s short-handed goal cut the deficit back to 3-2 at 1:28. Armia entered the high slot and beat Blackwood under his glove with a wrist shot. MacKinnon scored his second goal of the period to put the Avalanche ahead 4-2 at 8:33. The play began with Martin Necas dropping a pass inside the left circle, and MacKinnon finished by roofing the puck far side over Kuemper’s glove. Colorado extended the lead again in the second when Nicolas Roy pushed it to 5-2 at 16:01. Roy chipped a loose puck over Kuemper after a scramble in the crease left Kuemper sprawled on the ice. Moore then answered with another short-handed goal at 17:50, bringing the Kings to 5-3. Moore found a tipped puck that went airborne at the right wall, advanced down on a 2-on-1 with Scott Laughton, and scored off the left shoulder of Blackwood from the right circle. Lehkonen scored during the same power play to make it 6-3 at 18:34, one-timing a centering pass from Nelson in the high slot. The Kings added another goal near the midway point of the third period, with Artemi Panarin cutting the score to 6-4 at 11:51. Panarin, serving as the extra attacker during a delayed penalty, took a pass from Drew Doughty at the blue line, cut toward the middle, and scored over the blocker of Blackwood, who did not go down. Gabriel Landeskog made it 7-4 at 14:03. On a 3-on-2 rush, Cale Makar’s initial attempt went wide, but the rebound caromed off the end wall to Landeskog, who scored off the skate of Kings forward Quinton Byfield at the left post. Lehkonen then sealed the outcome with another power-play goal at 15:06, completing the 8-4 final score for Colorado. For the Kings, Kuemper made 21 saves. Despite the loss, the game featured multiple momentum swings and continued emphasis on special teams, with Los Angeles generating two short-handed goals in addition to their even-strength scoring contributions as both teams opened their season schedules at Ball Arena.

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