Avalanche jump on gassed Flames, cruise to 5-2 win to improve to 6-1-1 at home

Corey Masisak, The Denver Post on Nov 1, 2026

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche wasted little time Saturday night taking care of business against the Calgary Flames.

Arturri Lehkonen had two goals, Cale Makar had four assists and Mackenzie Blackwood made 25 saves as the Avs cruised to a 5-2 win at Ball Arena. It’s the Avs’ second straight win and they’re now 6-1-1 at home this season.

The NHL schedule maker deserves an assist for this one. Calgary played at home Friday night, and the nearly 1,100 miles between Scotiabank Saddledome and Ball Arena is one of the longest back-to-backs of the NHL season.

Colorado was well rested, with two days off and only one game in its last five. The Flames were also playing No. 3 goalie Arsenii Sergeev because University of Denver alum Devin Cooley, who has had a great start to this season, was injured earlier in the week against Edmonton and placed on injured reserve.

Still, the Avs are quite familiar with what happens when they aren’t dialed in against an inferior opponent, even when rested. They went to Music City and were waiting for the Predators to return from Pittsburgh for a back-to-back this past weekend, and Nashville won in a rout.

Nathan MacKinnon gave the Avs an early lead with his ninth goal of the season. Makar made a crafty play while charging down the right wing, and while his pass to Martin Necas in the slot didn’t connect, the puck still ended up on MacKinnon’s stick near the top of the left circle, and he wired one into the top corner of the net.

Colorado scored three times in the first half of the second period to take control.

Necas made it a 2-0 lead at 2:37 of the second. The Avs’ top power-play unit came through, with Nazem Kadri setting up Necas for a tight-angle goal with a cross-crease pass.

Lehkonen continued his torrid shooting start to the campaign at 5:48 of the second. He moved the puck from his backhand to his forehand and snapped a shot past Sergeev after a great passing sequence from Colorado’s top line and defense pairing.

That was Lehkonen’s 11th goal. No. 12 came early in the third period after Calgary had scored twice to find a glimmer of hope. Lehkonen deflected a Makar shot from the left point at 4:09 of the third. He’s now tied for second in the NHL in goals with Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl, trailing only Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov’s 14.

Brock Nelson made it a 4-0 lead midway through the middle frame. Gabe Landeskog’s pass during a 2-on-1 was deflected, but Nelson was able to guide it into the net with atap-inn mid-air for his fourth goal of the year.

Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil scored for the Flames before Lehkonen’s second of the night. The Avs have won only two of six road games this season, and one was a 7- 3 win in Calgary.

Colorado has been one of the best offensive teams this season, especially at home. The Avs have now scored 40 goals in eight home games — both the total and per-game average (5.0) easily lead the league.