Parker Kelly scored shorthanded, Cale Makar had a power-play goal and an assist, and the Colorado Avalanche used special teams to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 4–2.
In Thursday night’s 4-2 victory at San Jose, the Avalanche continued where they left off, scoring twice on the power play, with Nathan MacKinnon contributing an empty-net goal and two assists, and Valeri Nichushkin also scoring. 29 saves were made by Scott Wedgewood.
On a 2-on-1 short-handed rush in the second, Kelly tied the score at one, and halfway through the second, Nichushkin gave Colorado the lead. Makar scored his fifth power-play goal and 18th point with a man advantage early in the third with a wrist shot to make it 3-1.
Anaheim’s goals came from Alex Killorn and Leo Carlsson. John Gibson lost for the fifth time in six starts despite making 19 stops, including a penalty shot from Samuel Girard with 5:24 remaining in the third.
Takeaways
Avalanche: Colorado has won six of nine games with Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood starting in goal, proving that their choice to change their goaltender has paid off thus far.
Ducks: Carlsson blocked the veteran defenseman’s shot early in the second to give Jacob Trouba his first point as a Duck since he was traded from the New York Rangers on December 6.
Key moment
Makar punished the Ducks’ over-pursuit on the penalty kill 3:30 into the third, and his shot is too good to be left with time and space on the power play.
Key stat
With the main assist on Makar’s goal and the secondary assist on Nichushkin’s, MacKinnon became the first NHL player to reach the 40-assist milestone this season.
Up next
On Sunday, the Ducks travel to Utah while the Avalanche host Seattle.
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