Now that’s a way to start a road trip.
Nathan MacKinnon recorded his first multi-goal performance of the season as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Buffalo Sabres 3–1 on Monday morning at KeyBank Center.
MacKinnon found the back of the net twice, while Cale Makar and Marty Nečas each contributed two points. Scott Wedgewood turned aside 28 shots to secure the victory.
For Buffalo, Tage Thompson notched his first goal of the season in the loss, and Alex Lyon made 34 saves in his third consecutive start between the pipes.
First Period
The Avalanche struck on just their second shot of the game when MacKinnon knocked down a pass, corralled the puck, and fired a backhander over Lyon’s blocker to give Colorado a 1–0 lead.
After Bowen Byram committed a turnover, Jack Drury couldn’t maintain possession and ended up tripping an opponent, sending Buffalo to its first power play.
Colorado killed off that penalty, then went shorthanded again a few minutes later when they were caught with too many men on the ice. The Sabres failed to capitalize on either opportunity.
With 3:28 remaining in the opening period, Tage Thompson—who scored 47 goals during the 2022-23 season—snapped a wrist shot from the point through traffic, beating Wedgewood cleanly over the blocker to tie the game at one.
Second Period
Nearly four minutes into the period, Thompson missed a wide-open net as Wedgewood lunged across the crease in desperation. About 30 seconds later, Valeri Nichushkin intercepted a pass in the attacking zone, dangled his way toward the net, and fed Makar a beautiful backdoor pass to restore Colorado’s lead at 2–1.
Much like their game against Dallas, the Avalanche struggled with puck control at times. Fortunately for them, the Sabres were equally sloppy, making poor decisions with the puck that repeatedly put themselves in harm’s way. Buffalo’s lack of discipline compounded matters, as Alex Tuch was whistled for tripping Makar. Despite generating several high-quality looks, the Avalanche failed to convert on the power play for the second time in the game.
After both teams received matching minors—Brent Burns for tripping and Alex Tuch for embellishment—MacKinnon scored his second goal of the night on a blistering wrist shot that beat Lyon cleanly. The sequence was initiated by Marty Nečas, who carried the puck into the attacking zone before executing a smooth drop pass to MacKinnon just below the left circle. MacKinnon deftly stickhandled to create space, then uncorked a wicked wrister that torched the net.
Shortly afterward, a puck battle ensued behind the net, allowing Rasmus Dahlin to charge in unmarked and fire a backhander from the slot. Wedgewood responded with a stellar glove save to preserve the two-goal cushion.
Colorado carried a 3–1 lead into the third period.
Third Period
Early in the third, Buffalo defenseman Conor Timmins was struck in the back by a shot and left for the dressing room.
At 6:25, Nichushkin fired a shot from the right circle that deflected off multiple bodies and trickled underneath Lyon. Gabe Landeskog and Drury crashed the crease in an attempt to bury the loose puck, but they were denied. Drury then absorbed a heavy hit from Thompson after circling through the crease to find a new shooting angle.
Dahlin took a needless interference penalty at 10:08 for clobbering Nichushkin in the slot, giving the Avalanche their fourth power-play opportunity of the night.
Earlier in the period, Brock Nelson briefly left the game after an errant Byram skate caught him near the boards, but he later returned—a positive sign for Buffalo. With just under six minutes remaining, Nelson snapped a wrist shot from the left circle that Lyon gloved cleanly.
Timmins also returned after his earlier injury, but his comeback was marred by a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass. The Avalanche failed to capitalize once again, finishing the night 0-for-5 on the power play.
It ultimately didn’t matter. Colorado held firm defensively down the stretch to secure a 3–1 victory and open their two-game road trip on a winning note. As the final buzzer sounded, several frustrated Buffalo fans hurled their jerseys onto the ice.
Where the Avalanche can improve
Colorado looked a bit sluggish to start the game. The first period, in particular, was difficult to watch as the defense repeatedly struggled with turnovers in their own zone. Fortunately for the Avalanche, Wedgewood returned to form after a shaky outing against Dallas. We definitely need to cut back on the interceptions and the turnovers because there’s going to be a night when our netminders aren’t at their best. They’re human just like everyone else, and the day that happens, it might ended up being one of those huge wakeup call moments.
As mentioned earlier, puck control was a persistent issue at various points throughout the night. However, one of Colorado’s greatest strengths is their ability to strike unexpectedly, and they did just that when it mattered most.
Top Dogs Are dominating
The top line of MacKinnon, Nečas, and Lehkonen continues to operate at a scorching pace, though there’s still room for improvement—particularly on the power play. MacKinnon, Nečas, and Makar combined for six points in this game, showcasing elite-level play across the board. Nečas even had a goal waved off for being offsides, which would have given him a three-point night. The longer the Avalanche wait to get his contract extension done, the more expensive he’s becoming. It’s time to act.
Wedgewood bounces back
Wedgewood was a bit shaky against Dallas, which is understandable given the Stars’ deep roster and the slew of turnovers that forced him to second-guess his positioning and approach. Even so, he made several spectacular saves to keep the Avalanche in the game. A similar scenario played out today, but this time Wedgewood was outstanding from start to finish. This game easily could have been both more lopsided and far closer at different moments. In the end, though, a win is a win.
What’s next for the Colorado Avalanche?
The Avalanche (3-0-1) get a few days off before they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is at 5 p.m. local time.