The Colorado Avalanche didn’t just bounce back - they responded with authority.
Coming off their worst loss of the season against the Nashville Predators, the Avs hit the ice with something to prove against the Washington Capitals. And while a few whistles sparked some debate, Colorado let its play do the talking, pulling away late for a 5-2 win that felt like a statement.
First Period: Makar Magic and a Career Milestone
The game opened with Colorado on the penalty kill after Ilya Solovyov was whistled for holding, but the Avs stood tall early. Then came the first flash of brilliance.
Cale Makar, doing what only Cale Makar can do, danced past Ryan Leonard at the blue line with a slick spin move and fired a wrist shot toward the net. Parker Kelly got just enough of it for the redirect - his ninth goal of the season and a new career high.
That goal had a little bit of everything: elite skill from Makar, net-front presence from Kelly, and a feel-good moment for Alex Barre-Boulet, who picked up the secondary assist in his Avalanche debut after being called up to replace Valeri Nichushkin. First game, first point - not a bad way to introduce yourself.
Then came a pivotal moment. Jacob Chychrun was battling behind the net but caught Ross Colton with a high stick, drawing a double minor.
The Avs didn’t waste much time. Martin Necas dropped a pass that let Nathan MacKinnon fly into the zone - and when MacKinnon picks up speed like that, you’re in trouble.
He buried it to make it 2-1.
Second Period: Trading Blows
The second frame saw a flurry of penalties and momentum swings. After a brief stretch of 4-on-4 due to offsetting minors, the Avalanche went back on the power play thanks to an interference call on Aliaksei Protas. They couldn’t cash in that time, but they didn’t have to wait long.
Victor Olofsson pounced on a rebound from a Josh Manson point shot and roofed it to stretch the lead to 3-1. Credit Brock Nelson for the clean faceoff win that started the sequence - those little plays matter, especially on special teams.
But the Capitals weren’t done. Just 17 seconds later, Ethan Frank found himself wide open in front of the net and made no mistake finishing a feed from Alex Ovechkin. That made it 3-2 and kept the game tight heading into the third.
Third Period: MacKinnon Takes Over
The third period started with a series of overlapping penalties that gave Colorado a lengthy 5-on-3 opportunity. But despite the advantage, the Avs couldn’t convert - a missed chance that could’ve haunted them if not for what came next.
MacKinnon, once again, took matters into his own hands. He found Makar cutting to the net and set him up for what looked like the Avalanche’s fourth goal. But after a coach’s challenge, the goal was overturned due to goaltender interference.
No problem. MacKinnon just went right back to work.
This time, he stripped a Capitals player trying to exit the zone and immediately fed Artturi Lehkonen, who buried it to restore the two-goal cushion at 4-2. That assist bumped MacKinnon past Peter Stastny for second in franchise history in multi-point games - yet another milestone in a career that’s already packed with them.
And he wasn’t done.
With under two minutes left, Necas forced a turnover behind the Capitals’ net and found MacKinnon, who fired home his second of the night to make it 5-2. That goal was more than just insurance - it marked MacKinnon’s 1,100th career point, making him the 70th player in NHL history to reach that mark. A fitting exclamation point on a dominant performance.
The game ended with Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren getting called for tripping Olofsson in the final seconds after a desperation stick play, but by then, the outcome was sealed.
What’s Next
The Avalanche return to the ice on Wednesday, Jan. 21, when they take on the Anaheim Ducks. With MacKinnon in MVP form and the team showing signs of sharpening its edge again, Colorado looks ready to make another serious push.
The message from this game? The Avs are far from rattled - they’re just getting started.