The Colorado Avalanche opened the season with a wild 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Six different players scored goals and eight had multi-point outings.
Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and a fight. Artturi Lehkonen netted two, and Brock Nelson had a three-point night.
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However, the Avs have areas to address moving forward. Mackenzie Blackwood and the top power-play unit allowed two short-handed goals, while the second PP unit scored three.
“Decision-making with the puck early in the game. I thought we were forcing things. Guys didn’t want to hang on to it or cycle it. It’s always forcing pucks into areas that are covered or not clean plays, not high-percentage plays, so you don’t spend enough time in O-zone play,” head coach Jared Bednar said. “The checking side of it, okay in the D zone at times. It got better as the game went on, but the rush coverage, oof. It was rough. Guys just still a little bit in shinny mode, not enough talk, but all fixable.”
Watch what Mile High Sports’ Colleen Flynn had to say about the season opener in “Wake the Puck Up” in the player above.