Nathan MacKinnon scored a go-ahead goal early in the third period, Ross Colton also had a goal, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Utah Mammoth 2-1 in their home opener in Denver on Thursday night.
Scott Wedgewood turned away 31 shots for Colorado.
Dylan Guenther scored and Karel Vejmelka made 23 saves for Utah in its season opener.
The Avalanche struggled on their first two man-advantage chances but finally found some rhythm on their third early in the final period. Cale Makar carried the puck into the Utah zone, had a give-and-go with Martin Necas before feeding MacKinnon at the top of the left circle.
MacKinnon stickhandled to the dot and wristed a shot that beat Vejmelka to the far top corner at 2:52.
It was MacKinnon’s first goal of the season and third point in the first two games.
The Mammoth had several chances to tie the game but Wedgewood stoned Guenther, who had gotten behind the Avalanche defense, and Lawson Crouse was stopped on another opportunity late.
Vejmelka came off for an extra skater in the final minutes but Utah couldn’t get the equalizer.
Colorado had chances in the first period before cashing in midway through. Victor Olofsson gathered the puck at the Mammoth blueline, skated down the right side before saucering a pass to Jake Drury in the left circle. Drury sent it to Colton, who beat Vejmelka with a one-timer at 10:57.
It was Colton’s first of the season.
Utah carried the play for most of the second period and held the Avalanche without a shot on two power-play chances.
The Mammoth didn’t take long to capitalize on their first power-play opportunity. With Parker Kelly off for slashing late in the period, Nick Schmaltz won the ensuing faceoff in Colorado’s zone, the puck went back to Clayton Keller, who slid a pass to Guenther at the point. Guenther beat Wedgewood just four seconds into the power play to tie it at 17:48.
It was his first goal of the season.
–Field Level Media
