Necas has 2 goals, assist for Avalanche in win against Flames

CALGARY -- Martin Necas had two goals and an assist to help the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 win against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday.

The forward has eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games since being acquired by Colorado with forward Jack Drury in a three-team trade involving the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks that sent forwards Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes.

"Definitely feels a little more comfortable getting to know the guys," Necas said. "I was in Carolina for a long time so being in a new group was a little bit weird in the beginning but I'm starting to get to know the guys now and they've been great. Definitely a fun way to play hockey and I'm enjoying it."

Cale Makar had a goal and an assist, and Nathan MacKinnon had three assists for the Avalanche (32-22-2), who have won three of four. Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves.

"I thought that our leadership group did a nice job of getting their guys back on track because the first period was ugly and then all of a sudden it was a complete turnaround in the second," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Good on our leaders for taking control of the room and getting everyone thinking about the right things."

Jonathan Huberdeau and Rasmus Andersson scored, and Dustin Wolf made 30 saves for the Flames (26-21-7), who have lost three of four and five of seven.

"We try to work as hard as we can," Huberdeau said. "Obviously tonight was not our best game, but I think we know we're capable of way more. Obviously, it's not a good time to lose a couple in a row but we've got one more (before the 4 Nations Face-Off break), come back and play hard."

Huberdeau shot past Blackwood's blocker on a 5-on-3 power play to put Calgary up 1-0 at 3:22 of the first period.

Makar, who will represent Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off from Feb. 12-20, tied it 1-1 with his 20th goal of the season at 1:20 of the second period. He is the eighth defenseman in NHL history to have three or more 20-goal campaigns in his first six seasons, and the first defenseman to have three 20-goal seasons before his 27th birthday since Brian Leetch in 1993-94.

"I don't know if those will really hit me until I'm done playing," Makar said. "It's just a testament to the guys I've been playing with, guys that give me good passes and you try to put yourself in good positions to score."

Artturi Lehkonen, who will play for Finland in the 4 Nations Face-Off, put the Avalanche up 2-1 at 5:34 when he tapped a loose puck over the goal line after MacKinnon hit the post, and Necas made it 3-1 when he tipped MacKinnon's shot by Wolf on the power play with 18 seconds remaining in the period.

"We knew the first wasn't great and it felt like we didn't really have legs and energy wasn't great," Necas said. "The second we jumped into it. Cale got us going just like always. Then we dominated."

Necas scored again on a shot over Wolf's glove on a breakaway to push it to 4-1 at 12:53 of the third period.

"I think he's going to be a star," Makar said. "You can see. He thinks the game well, skates fast. Obviously tough to lose Mikko but at the same time I think we got a gem of a guy. Hopefully he keeps developing and learning with this group."

Andersson, who will represent Sweden in the 4 Nations Face-Off, scored on a shot along the ice at 18:14 for the 4-2 final.

"I just thought the energy was a little low tonight," Calgary defenseman MacKenzie Weegar said. "Just another opportunity for us to make our mark in the standings and it just wasn't there. I thought we got to get back to committing to doing the hard work out there, the stuff nobody really likes to do but it's important ... grinding down low in the corners, backchecking hard, staying on top of checks.

"They've got some skill over there that took over as well, so we've got to find a way to stop that."

NOTES: MacKinnon, who will also play for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, leads the NHL with 83 points and 63 assists. … Makar joins Paul Coffey (five), Denis Potvin (five), Ray Bourque (four), Bobby Orr (four), Steve Duchesne, Phil Housley and Reed Larson with three or more 20-goal seasons in their first six seasons. ... Makar is also the fourth active defenseman to register consecutive 20-goal seasons following Brent Burns (2015-16, 2016-17), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (2014-15, 2015-16) and Erik Karlsson (2013-14, 2014-15). ... Blackwood won his 13th game since joining the Avalanche on Dec. 14. Only Connor Hellebuyck with 15, has more over that span. ... Weegar has five assists in a four-game assist and point streak.