Avalanche Falls to Canucks 8-6

Defeat at Home

The Avalanche lost 8-6 to the Vancouver Canucks at Ball Arena on Wednesday. Nathan MacKinnon became to first player to reach 50 goals this season, Sam Malinski scored twice, while Gabriel Landeskog, Parker Kelly and Brent Burns each added a tally. Additionally, Devon Toews and Valeri Nichushkin both posted two assists while Josh Manson played in his 700th regular-season game.

How It Happened

Vancouver's Max Sasson opened the scoring at 29 seconds of the first period via a shot from the bottom of the left circle off the rush. 

MacKinnon tied the game at 1:22 of the opening frame with his 50th goal of the season via a shot from the high slot after a series of incredible moves to create space between him and the Canucks defenders. MacKinnon is the third player in franchise history to record multiple seasons of at least 50 goals (Michel Goulet, 4 & Joe Sakic, 2). He's also the second player in franchise history to become the first player in the league to reach 50 tallies (Milan Hejduk, 2002-03).

The Canucks took a 2-1 lead at 5:21 of the first period when Teddy Blueger scored a shorthanded goal via a right-circle shot off the rush.

Jake DeBrusk doubled Vancouver's lead at 11;38 of the opening frame with a power-play goal via a shot from the doorstep.

Colorado made it a 3-2 game at 16:05 of the first period when Landeskog scored his 12th goal of the season via a redirect from the slot on Burns' left-point shot. With the secondary helper on the goal, Valeri Nichushkin recorded the 200th assist of his career.

Blueger gave the Canucks a 4-2 lead with his second goal of the game at 5:02 of the middle frame via a shot from the doorstep off the rush. 

Vancouver took a 5-2 lead at 9:42 of the second period when Brock Boeser scored via a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle.

Boeser made it 6-2 with his second goal of the game via a right-circle shot off the rush at 15:21 of the middle frame.

The Avs cut its deficit to three goals at 15:43 of the third when Malinski scored his sixth goal of the season via a shot from the point. With the helper on the goal, Toews posted his 36th multi-assist game with the Avs and passed Sandis Ozolinsh for the second-most such contests in franchise history by a defenseman.

Kelly made it a 6-4 game at 13 seconds of the third period with his 19th goal of the season via a right-circle shot off the rush.

Colorado cut its deficit to one at 13:21 of the third period with his 11th goal of the season via a one-timer from the point.

Malinski tied the game at 13:58 of the third period with his second goal of the game and seventh of the season via a shot from the high slot.

Marcus Pettersson gave the Canucks a 7-6 lead at 14:21 of the third period via a left-circle one-timer. 

Vancouver doubled its lead when Boeser completed his hat trick via an empty-net goal at 18:31 of the the third period.

Next Up

The Avalanche faces the Dallas Stars on the road on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT on ABC, the ESPN app and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.