Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates after a goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammates left wing Jonathan Drouin, center, and defenseman Cale Makar, le during first-period NHL hockey game action, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Cale Makar and Joel Kiviranta all scored in Colorado's first-period barrage and the Avalanche cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
Nelson finished with two goals — his first two since being acquired by Colorado from the New York Islanders — and Scott Wedgewood made 15 saves.
Wedgewood's shutout bid being ended by Dylan Cozens’ power-play goal with 4:41 left in the game.
The Avalanche chased Linus Ullmark from the game just 17:29 in after he allowed four goals on 13 shots.
It was the Senators’ second straight loss following a six-game winning streak.
Nelson scored his second of the night on the power play 1:54 into the middle frame after tipping Artturi Lehkonen's shot to beat Anton Forsberg, who allowed one goal on 19 shots in relief of Ullmark.
Takeaways
Senators: Cozens continues to shine since joining the Senators with points in six of his seven games (three goals, three assists).
Avalanche: Colorado had a slow first five minutes and then got going after MacKinnon’s opening goal.
Key moment
Ullmark struggled on Nelson’s first goal, a moment that seemed to drain the Senators’ momentum and sap their energy.
Key stat
Nine players in the NHL have 50-plus points and 100-plus hits. Ottawa’s Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson are three of them.
Up next
Senators: Head to New Jersey to take on the Devils on Saturday.
Avalanche: Travel to Montreal to take on the Canadiens on Saturday.
Ottawa Senators center Matthew Highmore, right, tries to tip the puck past Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood, left, during first-period NHL hockey game action, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) makes a pad-save on a shot by Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle, right, during second-period NHL hockey game action, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) collides with Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub, right, during first-period NHL hockey game action, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven, left, collides with Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor, right, behind the net during second-period NHL hockey game action, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor (25) tries to screen Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg, right, on a shot during second-period NHL hockey game action, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) shoots against Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during first-period NHL hockey game action, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Ottawa, Ontario. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press via AP)
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