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10/01 00:12 CDT MacKinnon has 2 goals and a rare fight in the Avs' 8-4 victory
over the Kings in opener
MacKinnon has 2 goals and a rare fight in the Avs' 8-4 victory over the Kings
in opener
By MICHAEL KELLY
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) --- Nathan MacKinnon scored twice in a four-goal second period and
capped his night with a rare fight, and the Colorado Avalanche opened the
season with a 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.
Hours before the game, Colorado coach Jared Bednar was given a four-year
contract extension. Bednar, who led Colorado to the 2022 Stanley Cup title, was
in the final year of his current contract. The extension ended speculation on
his future after being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference finals last
spring.
"I didn't want him to go through the whole year and have those distractions of
being asked that same question, especially as the year goes on," Avs president
and general manager Joe Sakic said before Wednesday night's game.
Artturi Lehkonen had two goals, Brock Nelson had a goal and two assist and
Mackenzie Blackwood made 26 saves for Colorado, which scored four times on the
power play and allowed two short-handed goals.
MacKinnon, who had a career-high 53 goals last season, scored on a 5-on-3 just
23 seconds into the second period and gave the Avs a 4-2 lead with his second
at 8:33.
The 2024 MVP, whose last fight was four years ago, dropped the gloves with
Kings defenseman Brandt Clark with Colorado leading 6-4 late in the third. Avs
captain Gabriel Landeskog scored less than a minute later and Lehkonen iced it
with his second 1:03 later.
Trevor Moore, Joel Armia and Brian Dumoulin scored for Los Angeles, and Darcy
Kuemper stopped 21 shots.
Nelson and Kelly scored in the first period to give the Avs a 2-1 lead, and
Moore and Armia had goals in the second period for the Kings.
Artemi Panarin scored on a delayed penalty midway through the third.
Up next Kings: At San Jose on Saturday night. Avalanche: Host St. Louis on Saturday night ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Up next Kings: At San Jose on Saturday night. Avalanche: Host St. Louis on Saturday night ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
