In their season opener of the 2026-27 NHL campaign, the Colorado Avalanche hosted the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena, delivering a game that fans won’t soon forget. The Avalanche triumphed with an 8-4 victory, featuring multiple power-play and shorthanded goals, along with an intense fight involving Nathan MacKinnon.
The Game Recap
Surprisingly, Colorado opened the scoring on their first power play, although it was the second unit that scored—the goal was a deflected rebound off Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper’s mask by Brock Nelson. Los Angeles then capitalized on their own power play but failed to score, gaining momentum in the process. After several key saves by Mackenzie Blackwood and some close shots, L.A. managed to tie the game with a shot through traffic by defenseman Brian Dumoulin. Their next power play also fizzled, but Parker Kelly capitalized on a breakaway immediately after the penalty expired, giving Colorado a 2-1 lead as the first period ended.
In the second period, Colorado extended their advantage with a five-on-three power play, and Nathan MacKinnon scored just 23 seconds into the frame. However, Joel Armia responded for the Kings on a shorthanded breakaway just a minute later. The Kings got within one at 3-2, but the Avalanche pulled further ahead with goals from MacKinnon and Nic Roy, the latter coming while Jaden Schwartz appeared to contact Kuemper in the crease—yet no goal challenge was initiated. Los Angeles then scored their second shorthanded goal of the period through Trevor Moore, but Colorado replied with a power-play goal from Artturi Lehkonen, moments before the second intermission, making it 6-3.
The third period saw some misfortune for Josh Manson, who lost the puck leading to extended Kings pressure and then took a penalty. Artemi Panarin capitalized on a delayed penalty opportunity, scoring from a distance to bring L.A. within two. The excitement escalated when Nathan MacKinnon dropped the gloves with Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke, landing some rights in the process. With ten minutes left, Gabe Landeskog scored his first goal of the season on a rebound, and Lehkonen added another power-play goal—this time with the second unit—to seal the 8-4 victory for Colorado.
Highlights:
Watch the full game here: YouTube Link
Key Takeaways
This game showcased a bit of everything: stellar and shaky goaltending, numerous power-play goals, and even a couple of shorthanded strikes. The match reflected some of the early-season chaos and mistakes, marking the first time in Avalanche history that September games featured such a high score, indicating room for improvement but also early signs of potent offensive power.
Special teams played a pivotal role, with the Avalanche scoring four power-play goals but also surrendering two shorthanded markers. While their first unit only converted on a five-on-three, the second unit carried much of the offensive load, raising the question of how long the team will rely on this split balance before favoring one group more heavily.
Upcoming Match
Next, Colorado will stay home to face the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, October 3rd, at 7 p.m. MT.
Fan Take:
This thrilling opener sets an exciting tone for the Avalanche’s season, showing both their offensive firepower and areas to tighten up defensively. For hockey fans, it’s a reminder that unpredictability and intensity define the sport—as early as September—making every game a must-watch as teams find their rhythm.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
