The Colorado Avalanche got right back in the saddle on Thursday night, blowing out the Calgary Flames to avenge the loss from the night before.
Playing the second leg of their back-to-back set in Western Canada, the Colorado Avalanche moved past their 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets the night before, and proceeded to pound Calgary 7-3 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The win bumped the Avs’ record to 3-1-0, with contributions from the usual suspects leading the way.
The Avalanche also got key performances from depth players, allowing the team to pretty much sail past the Flames. While there were some hiccups in the third period, Colorado played as good a game as you can on the second night of a back-to-back.
Cale Makar, Devon Toews and Jaden Schwartz each scored twice, while Nathan MacKinnon had three points of his own. Scott Wedgewood did his job, stopping 26 shots in his first start of the season.
There was plenty to like about this performance. Here are three reflections from Colorado's convincing road win.
Avalanche Offense Explodes in the Second Period
For a while, the Flames held their own against Colorado. The game was close for most of the first period, until the Avs broke the deadlock.
Toews opened the scoring with a first-period deflection, but Calgary answered with Adam Klapka’s first of the season. The Avalanche needed a spark, and they got one in the middle frame.
The floodgates opened and the game quickly got out of hand for Calgary.
Toews restored Colorado's lead at 6:45 of the second period. Makar followed at 9:16, and MacKinnon added another just over two minutes later. In less than five minutes, the Avalanche had turned a tight contest into a commanding 4-1 advantage.
Calgary simply couldn't keep up.
The outburst was a welcome sight after Colorado managed only two goals against Winnipeg. The Avalanche generated plenty of chances in that game but struggled to finish. Against the Flames, they made their opportunities count.
It’s worth noting that Colorado will not score seven goals every night, but when its top players start converting at this rate, opposing teams have very little room for error.
Makar and Toews Show What Makes Colorado So Dangerous
Colorado's blue line did more than keep Calgary's forwards in check. It helped drive the offense.
Toews finished with two goals, opening the scoring before striking again in the second period. Makar matched that output, finding the net twice and demonstrating once more why he's such a difficult player to defend.
MacKinnon, meanwhile, recorded a goal and two assists. He leads the team with eight points (3G, 5A) and looks to be picking up right from where he left off last season.
As for the Makar-Toews duo, Avalanche fans have no need to worry. They were the difference-makers on Thursday night.
Makar's two-goal performance in his hometown made the night even sweeter.
The Avalanche need their stars to deliver consistently if they want to contend for another Stanley Cup. Thursday offered a reminder of just how devastating that group can be when everything clicks.
Avalanche Depth Gives Bednar More to Work With
The headline performances belonged to Colorado's established stars, but the supporting cast deserves attention, too.
Schwartz scored twice in the third period, while rookie T.J. Hughes registered his first NHL point with an assist. L'Heureux also picked up his first point with Colorado, setting up MacKinnon's goal.
L’Heureux also made plenty of waves with a second-period bout against Matt Coronato.
The game wasn't entirely smooth sailing. Calgary scored twice in just over a minute to cut the deficit to 6-3, briefly threatening to make things interesting. Schwartz quickly restored the four-goal cushion, though, putting the kibosh on any comeback hopes.
Colorado now has three wins through four games. Better yet, the Avalanche have shown they can respond to adversity without letting one frustrating result snowball into another.
Next up is a Saturday matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. If Colorado's stars keep producing and its depth continues to chip in, the Avalanche will be a difficult team to slow down.
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