Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, left, pursues the puck with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER (AP) — Martin Necas had two goals and an assist, Jonathan Drouin and Logan O’Connor also sored, and the streaking Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-0 on Thursday night for their fourth straight win.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 23 saves for his third shutout with Colorado and fourth overall this season. Cale Makar had two assists.
O’Connor and Necas scored goals 1:32 apart early in the second, Necas added a power-play goal later in the period, and Drouin had another on a man-advantage in the third.
Nathan MacKinnon had the primary assist on Drouin's goal to extend his home point streak to 23 games.
David Rittich had 20 saves for Los Angeles, which had its four-game winning streak stopped.
Takeaways
Kings: Scored 20 goals during their winning streak, including two games where they had seven, but struggled to generate chances against Colorado. Their best chance came on Jeff Malott's shot on Blackwood midway through the first period.
Avalanche: Coach Jared Bednar keeps rotating the bottom six forwards in and out of the lineup to keep them fresh. Thursday night it was Joel Kiviranta and Jimmy Vesey who were healthy scratches and Miles Wood was back after sitting out Tuesday.
Key moment
After Colorado took a 2-0 lead, defenseman Devon Toews blocked a shot at an open net as Blackwood was sprawled on the ice. Kings forward Warren Foegele was whistled for goaltender interference when he fell over Blackwood, and Colorado scored on the ensuing power play.
Key stat
MacKinnon had a 35-game home streak last season when he finished with 140 points. He leads the NHL in scoring this season with 108 points, three ahead of Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov, who had four points Thursday night.
Up next
The Kings head home to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night while the Avalanche continue their four-game homestand against St. Louis on Saturday afternoon.
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson, left, loses his footing while fighting for control of the puck with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender David Rittich, left, stops a shot as he collides with Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood stops a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, left, gets pinned to the boards while pursuing the puck by Colorado Avalanche center Brock Nelson in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender David Rittich, left, makes a glove save of a shot as defenseman Drew Doughty tussles for position with Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings left winger Jeff Malott, top, flies over Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender David Rittich stops a shot in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko, right, directs a shot at Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon prepares for a face off in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, center, pursues the puck while driving between Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor, left, and defenseman Cale Makar in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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