NHL

Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks

· National Hockey League
Final
4 - 2

Makar, Avalanche continue special teams success in 4-2 win over Ducks

Colorado Avalanche vs. Anaheim Ducks: Game Highlights

Nathan MacKinnon had an empty-net goal and two assists, Valeri Nichushkin also scored and the Avalanche picked up where they left off after scoring twice on the power play in a 4-2 win at San Jose on Thursday night. Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves.

Kelly tied it at 1 on a 2-on-1 short-handed rush in the second, and Nichushkin put Colorado ahead midway through the period. Makar made it 3-1 with a wrist shot early in the third, picking up his fifth power-play goal and 18th point with a man advantage.

Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn scored for Anaheim. John Gibson made 19 saves, including a penalty shot by Samuel Girard with 5:24 left in the third, but lost for the fifth time in six starts.

Takeaways Avalanche: The decision to overhaul their goaltending has paid off so far, with Colorado winning six of nine games with Wedgewood or Mackenzie Blackwood starting in net.

Ducks: Jacob Trouba got his first point as a Duck since getting traded from the New York Rangers on Dec. 6 when Carlsson redirected the veteran defenseman's shot early in the second.

Key moment Makar's shot is too good to be left with time and space on the power play, and he punished the Ducks' over pursuit on the penalty kill 3:30 into the third.

Key stat MacKinnon became the first player in the NHL to pass the 40-assist mark this season, picking up the secondary helper on Nichushkin’s goal and the primary on Makar's.

Up next The Avalanche host Seattle and the Ducks visit Utah on Sunday.

Regular Season Series

COL leads series 2-0

Scoring Summary

Goal 2nd Period 2:40 Leo Carlsson Goal (7) Tip-In, assists: Jacob Trouba (7), Brock McGinn (4)
Goal 2nd Period 6:40 Parker Kelly Goal (3) Snap Shot, assists: Logan O'Connor (5)
Goal 2nd Period 10:57 Valeri Nichushkin Goal (10) Wrist Shot, assists: Cale Makar (32), Nathan MacKinnon (40)
Goal 3rd Period 3:30 Cale Makar Goal (10) Snap Shot, assists: Nathan MacKinnon (41), Mikko Rantanen (30)
Goal 3rd Period 13:05 Alex Killorn Goal (7) Deflected, assists: Pavel Mintyukov (4)
Goal 3rd Period 18:41 Nathan MacKinnon Goal (14) Wrist Shot, assists: Mikko Rantanen (31), Valeri Nichushkin (5)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/col.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCOL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nhl/500/ana.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originANA
22 Blocked Shots 12
17 Hits 27
1 Takeaways 4
23 Shots 32
1 Power Play Goals 0
4 Power Play Opportunities 5
25.0 Power Play Percentage 0.0
1 Short Handed Goals 0
0 Shootout Goals 0
26 Faceoffs Won 27
49.1 Faceoff Win Percent 50.9
6 Giveaways 9
6 Total Penalties 5
15 Penalty Minutes 13
Anaheim Ducks Anaheim Ducks Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Robby Fabbri, C Injured Reserve Mar 29
Ross Johnston, LW Out Mar 29
Nathan Gaucher, C Out Mar 27
Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Josh Manson, D Out Apr 1
Sean Behrens, D Out Oct 8
Tucker Poolman, D Injured Reserve Oct 6

Game Information

Honda Center

Location: Anaheim, CA
Attendance: 16,226 | Capacity:

2024-25 Central Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Winnipeg 51 19 106 4
Dallas 49 21 102 4
Colorado 45 26 94 4
St. Louis 41 28 89 7
Minnesota 41 28 88 6
Utah 34 29 80 12
Nashville 27 40 62 8
Chicago 21 44 51 9

2024-25 Pacific Division Standings

TEAM W L PTS OTL
Vegas 45 21 98 8
Los Angeles 41 23 91 9
Edmonton 43 26 91 5
Calgary 35 27 82 12
Vancouver 34 27 81 13
Anaheim 33 33 74 8
Seattle 31 38 68 6
San Jose 20 44 50 10
Full Standings