DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche delivered another electrifying performance on Saturday night, overcoming the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 7-4 victory at Ball Arena, highlighted by Valeri Nichushkin's first career regular-season hat trick.
The Avalanche's success came against the backdrop of newly-acquired players making their debuts, including Brock Nelson and Charlie Coyle, who each contributed assists. While Colorado celebrated its strengths, including rallying from two goals down, it was clear the team's depth played a pivotal role.
Valeri Nichushkin completed his hat trick with an empty-net goal, bringing his season tally to 15 goals over 26 games. Before his third goal at 18:06 of the third period, Nathan MacKinnon had struck with two goals, netting his 100th point of the season as well.
This game not only emphasized Nichushkin's potential but also showcased MacKinnon's capabilities after he got back on his feet from a big hit earlier. "We let in a few more goals than we wanted, but I thought we actually played really well," MacKinnon reflected after the game.
Colorado had to fight hard after trailing early. The Maple Leafs took control of the match fast, scoring three times on their first nine shots. Mitch Marner opened the scoring just 3:04 minutes onto the clock, followed closely by John Tavares who found the back of the net at 12:51 after capitalizing on Jonathan Drouin's turnover.
Nichushkin responded swiftly with two goals, yielding his first at just 56 seconds after the puck dropped when he deftly tipped Ryan Lindgren's shot past Maple Leafs' goalie Anthony Stolarz.
Despite losing two leads, the Avalanche regrouped, scoring five unanswered goals. Jonathan Drouin leveled the game for Colorado at 4-4 with 8:05 remaining, and MacKinnon followed up with his go-ahead power-play goal at 15:45, capitalizing on Colorado's advantage.
The Avalanche finished strong, with MacKinnon and Nichushkin securing empty-net goals, cementing the victory and boosting Colorado's record to 5-0 on this six-game homestand.
Throughout the match, coach Jared Bednar praised the depth and resilience of his team. "We need four lines. We didn’t have any passengers tonight," he stated.
Bednar highlighted the impact of playing large, strong players at center after the recent trades, indicating the significant shifts made to strengthen the roster.
With key contributions from new faces, including Nelson's first assist for the Avalanche, the game demonstrated the dynamic changes made with the roster leading up to the trade deadline. This new lineup, now boasting over $100 million, exhibited strides toward championship contention.
While the Avalanche celebrated their impressive comeback, Maple Leafs’ star Auston Matthews continued his streak by providing three assists. Despite the loss, Toronto's high offensive capabilities were clear, even as they dropped their third consecutive game.
The Avalanche will be back at Ball Arena on Monday night, facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time, and fans will be eager to see how this newly revitalized Avalanche squad performs again.