CALGARY — Cale Makar scored twice and added an assist to lead the Colorado Avalanche to a 7-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Devon Toews and Jaden Schwartz also scored twice apiece and Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists as Colorado improved to 3-1-0 and Calgary fell to 0-4-0, the only NHL team yet to record a point this season.
Tied 1-1 after the first period, Colorado broke the game open with three goals in less than five minutes in the second, including a Toews wrist shot from the blueline that eluded a screened Devin Cooley to give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead it would not relinquish. Colorado tacked on two more early in the third before Mikael Backlund and Kevin Bahl cut into the deficit for Calgary, and Schwartz added insurance with his second of the period on a fluky bounce off the skate of Jake Middleton. Adam Klapka also scored for the Flames, who have been outscored 23-6 for a league-worst minus-17 goal differential.
Scott Wedgewood made 26 saves to earn the win in his season debut, his 200th career NHL game, while Cooley stopped 23 shots for Calgary. Brent Burns recorded an assist to reach 948 career points (274 goals, 674 assists), tying Chris Chelios for 10th place on the NHL's all-time scoring list for defensemen at age 41. Calgary rookies Aydar Suniev and Jonathan Castagna made their season debuts, with Castagna recording an assist in his first career NHL game.
Colorado also announced Thursday that forward Logan O'Connor has taken a personal leave of absence after his father, former NHL player Myles O'Connor, died at age 59. The team did not disclose a cause of death. The win helped Colorado rebound from its 3-2 loss in Winnipeg on Wednesday. Colorado hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, while Calgary hosts the Anaheim Ducks at the Saddledome on Saturday.