Rapid Recap: Avalanche 6, Red Wings 3

The Colorado Avalanche scored four unanswered goals after an early tally by the Detroit Red Wings and won 6-3 on Monday afternoon at Pepsi Center.
Nazem Kadri scored twice during Colorado's four-goal run, while Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Nieto also found the back of the net. Ryan Graves tallied in the third period and MacKinnon scored his second of the game, and 30th of the season, into an empty net with one minute left in regulation.
Seven different Avs players finished with multi-point outings, led by Kadri who added an assist for a three-point game. Andre Burakovsky, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen and Nikita Zadorov finished with two helpers apiece, while Graves also had an assist in the contest.

Tyler Bertuzzi began the game's scoring for Detroit at 2:28, and both Dylan Larkin and Givani Smith deposited the puck in the third period. Larkin finished with three points by adding assists on his team's other two goals in the contest.
Colorado goaltender Pavel Francouz finished with 22 saves. The Avs outshot the Red Wings 46-25 and won their fifth straight game in the all-time series, tied for the franchise's longest winning streak against Detroit (March 17, 1981-Oct. 20, 1982).
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Photo Gallery
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Highlights
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Notes & Quotes
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Video: Coach Bednar Postgame

THE GOALS

1st Period
2:28 DET (0-1) - After curling around the net with the puck, Dylan Larkin sent a cross pass in the low slot to Tyler Bertuzzi, who quickly knocked it into the cage to begin the scoring.
2nd Period
1:02 COL (1-1) - PPG, With Gabriel Landeskog providing a screen, Nazem Kadri redirected Cale Makar's shot into the net to tie the game.
2:56 COL (2-1) - Nathan MacKinnon knocked in the puck at the left post after receiving a cross-ice pass from Cale Makar.
3rd Period
4:19 COL (3-1) - Nazem Kadri tapped in a cross-ice pass low in the zone from Andre Burakovsky for his second goal of the game.
5:02 COL (4-1) - Matt Nieto placed the puck high, far-side into the net after receiving a feed from Tyson Jost.
7:02 DET (4-2) - Dylan Larkin scored on a backhand shot after picking up the loose puck in the slot.
14:59 COL (5-2) - Ryan Graves found twine with a top-shelf slap shot from the left point.
17:57 DET (5-3) - Givani Smith buried a loose puck near the crease.
19:0) COL (6-3) - ENG, Nathan MacKinnon scored into the gaping net from center ice for his 30th goal of the season.
Final: Avalanche - 6 | Red Wings - 3

3 STARS

Selected by Colorado Hockey Coach of the Game: Scott Sulentich (Steamboat Springs Youth Hockey Association)

POWER PLAYS

Colorado: 1 for 5
Detroit: 0 for 2

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Colorado: Pavel Francouz made 22 saves in the win
Detroit: Jimmy Howard faced 45 shots and made 40 saves, tying season highs in both categories

STAT OF THE NIGHT

30 x 3: Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and now has 30 goals on the season, ranking fourth in the NHL. It is the third straight campaign that MacKinnon has reached the 30-goal mark, joining Joe Sakic (2003-04 to 2006-07) as the only Colorado players since the team moved to Denver in 1995 to accomplish the feat. He is the eighth player in franchise history to have three straight 30-goal seasons.

NOTEBOOK

Cale Makar had two assists and now has 37 points on the season, tied with Bruce Bell (Quebec, 1984-85) for the most by a rookie defenseman in franchise history... Makar, who now has seven multi-point games this season to match Bell for the most by a rookie D-man in Avs/Nordiques history, takes over the NHL rookie scoring lead. He ranks second in assists and tied for third in goals among all first-year skaters… MacKinnon finished with eight shots and has registered at least one shot in 200 consecutive games, joining Joe Sakic as the only two players in franchise history to do so... Nazem Kadri scored twice and now has 17 goals on the season, surpassing the total he had in 2018-19 with the Toronto Maple Leafs (16). It was his fourth multi-goal game of the season, tied with Nathan MacKinnon for the most on the team this year... Matt Nieto scored his second game-winning goal of the season, matching his career high from his rookie campaign with San Jose in 2013-14... Colorado wrapped up its five-game homestand with a 3-0-2 record. Its current six-game home point streak (4-0-2) is the longest of the season... The Avs scored six or more goals in a game for the eighth time this season... The Avalanche hosted a game on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the seventh time and improved to 5-1-1 in those contests… Colorado is now 4-0-0 in afternoon games this season, outscoring opponents 22-9 in those outings... The Avalanche improves to 12-4-3 against Eastern Conference opponents in 2019-20… The Avs and Red Wings conclude their season series on March 2 in Detroit… The Avs finished January with a 5-2-2 record and have started the season with four straight months above .500 for the first time since 2003-04 (8-2-2 in October, 8-6-0 in November, 7-5-2 in December).

QUOTABLE

Nazem Kadri on the Avalanche's 3-0-2 homestand: "That was much needed I think. We struggled a little bit at home a few weeks ago and mentally I think that wears on you a little bit as prideful as these guys are. It takes a toll on you but we were able to figure it out. We know that if we play the way we can, we're going to give ourselves opportunities to win every single night, so that's our main focus."

BIG HIGHLIGHT

IMAGE OF THE GAME

Coach, I'm ready.

ROSTER REPORT

Goaltender Pavel Francouz made his first start since Jan. 10 against the Pittsburgh Penguins… Joonas Donskoi is healthy enough to return to action after missing four games while in concussion protocol, but the Avs decided to give him more time through the All-Star Break and bye week to be fully recovered and ready to play… Donskoi joined Mark Barberio as the team's healthy scratches.

INJURY UPDATE

Joonas Donskoi was a full participant in Sunday's practice after being in concussion protocol following a hit to the head on Dec. 7 at the New York Rangers, and he is expected to return to the lineup following the break… Colin Wilson (lower body) is out indefinitely after having surgery.

UP NEXT

The Avalanche has 11 days between games as it heads into the NHL All-Star Break and its league-mandated bye week. Nathan MacKinnon will represent Colorado at this weekend's All-Star festivities in St. Louis as the team captain of the Central Division. The Avs return to regular-season action on Feb. 1 when they begin a five-game road trip at the Philadelphia Flyers.

LINE COMBINATIONS

Based on the start of the game
Forwards
92 Gabriel Landeskog - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
13 Valeri Nichushkin - 91 Nazem Kadri - 95 Andre Burakovsky
11 Matt Calvert - 41 Pierre-Edouard Bellemare - 37 J.T. Compher
83 Matt Nieto - 17 Tyson Jost - 81 Vladislav Kamenev
Defensemen
27 Ryan Graves - 8 Cale Makar
49 Samuel Girard - 6 Erik Johnson
16 Nikita Zadorov - 28 Ian Cole
Goaltenders
39 Pavel Francouz
31 Philipp Grubauer