Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins on Saturday at Ball Arena. The win extended Colorado's season-opening point streak to six games while Boston suffered its third straight loss. Josh Manson and Martin Necas also scored for the Avalanche.
The Boston Bruins opened the scoring in Denver, capitalizing on a turnover in the neutral zone. At 3:11 of the first period, Johnny Beecher tapped in a crossing pass from Charlie McAvoy at the far side of the crease, giving Boston a 1-0 lead. Beecher, playing in his first game of the season, was wide open after McAvoy faked a shot from the top of the right circle.
The Avalanche responded quickly, tying the game at 1-1 when MacKinnon converted a breakaway at 7:08. Sprung by Artturi Lehkonen, MacKinnon went forehand-backhand around the right leg of Jeremy Swayman. Colorado took the lead at 10:22 on Josh Manson's slap shot from the blue line, which beat Swayman through a screen by Brock Nelson for Manson's first goal of the season.
The second period saw no goals, but the Avalanche dominated play, outshooting the Bruins 17-2 overall and generating 1.18 expected goals in five-on-five situations. Boston's penalty kill unit successfully neutralized three Avalanche power plays, keeping the score 2-1 heading into the third.
Early in the third, MacKinnon added insurance at 4:14 with a one-timer from the right dot, teed up by Lehkonen from below the goal line, making it 3-1. Martin Necas sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 17:23. Scott Wedgewood made 13 saves for Colorado, while Swayman stopped 34 shots for Boston.
With the victory, the Avalanche improved to 5-0-1 and won their third straight game. The Bruins fell to 3-3-0 after dropping three in a row following a 3-0 start to the season.
