DENVER — The Atlantic Division’s second place Toronto Maple Leafs fly into town for first time this season. After both the Colorado Avalanche and the Leafs did some retooling over the last 24 hours and the Avalanche look completely different. Once again the Colorado came out with a ton of speed but had depth to go along with it. Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, and Ryan Lindgren all had points in tonight’s 7–4 victory. The win would see Colorado slingshot into third place in the Central Division with 78 points over the Minnesota Wild.

First Period

Just 1:10 in the game, the Avalanche struck with one of their new acquisitions. Ryan Lindgren stopped the puck from heading out of the Leafs zone and threw the puck towards the net. Valeri Nichuskin tipped the puck just enough to send it past Anthony Stolarz. Just over two minutes later, Auston Matthews made a stretch pass to Matthew Knies, who drew the defense deeper into the zone. Mitch Marner pinched down the slot, waiting for the pass and then snapped it past Mackenzie Blackwood to tie it at one. Nichushkin did not want to wait too long for his next one. Sam Malinski took a shot that went wide of the net and Brock Nelson picked up the loose puck on the half wall. Nelson dropped it to Nichushkin, and he snapped it in for his second of the period.

Things slowed down a little, but the game was still going at 100 miles per hour. With just over seven minutes left in the first, the Leafs won a face-off in the Avalanche zone. John Tavares picked up the puck that was left in the right circle and whipped it past Blackwood to tie it back up at two. The last goal in the period was with just over four minutes left in the period. Matthews dumped the puck into the Avalanche zone, starting a race that Bobby McMann won. McMann made his way around Martin Necas and saw Marner waiting in the slot for the pass. Marner teed up a one-timer from his knee and took the lead for the Leafs 3–2.

Second Period

Colorado came out of the locker room looking for something to prove. They laid the pressure on thick to where the Leafs panicked in their own zone. The Avalanche drew two penalties back-to-back, but had no luck despite throwing several shots at Stolarz. Then, with 8:46 left in the second, Jack Drury was called for a weak hooking penalty. The Leafs passed around the perimeter and worked it low to the right side for Tavares for his second of the night. The Avalanche crawled back as Malinski carried the puck back into the Leafs’ zone and sent a hard cross-ice pass to Ross Colton. Joel Kiviranta crashed the net and kicked the puck in to end the period at 4–3.

Third Period

The period was a struggle for both sides until the Avalanche found their footing 12 minutes into the frame. A wrap around worked its way down to Charlie Coyle behind the net. He sent a perfect setup for Jonathon Drouin in the slot to tie it at four. Not soon after, Marner tripped Necas up and Colorado went on the power play. The Avalanche worked the zone and Nathan MacKinnon wristed a shot from the right circle over Stolarz’ shoulder for the lead. Toronto was forced to pull the goalie for an extra attacker and Nichushkin took advantage to score a hat trick. Just one minute later, still with the goalie pulled, MacKinnon raced down the ice and snapped the shot in for his 100th point of the season.

 

Observations from the Mountaintop

Although there were a lot of new faces on the bench, the Avalanche played some simple hockey to make it easy. Nelson did not struggle at all in debut playing 18:41 time on ice and one assist. Coyle made an amazing play for his assist and 11:44 time on ice. The team is never the same when Nichushkin is not on the ice. He set the tone tonight, scoring the first two goales and securing a hat trick. Colorado showed tonight that they can compete with a skilled team from the Eastern Conference and not blink an eye. They fought back and did so as a team.

 

Next Game

The Chicago Blackhawks and Connor Bedard come to town on Monday for Division Rivalry Night at 7 p.m. MT on Altitude 2.