Brock Nelson wasted little time making his mark on the Colorado Avalanche’s 2026-27 season.
About seven minutes into the first period against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, Nelson scored the Avalanche’s first goal of the year, and he did it on the power play. That detail stands out because Colorado had made a habit of striking first last season, but this opener came with the man advantage after the Kings were penalized for knocking the puck out of the rink in their own zone.
It also extends a notable pattern for the Avalanche at the start of seasons. Over the past five years, five different players have scored Colorado’s first goal of the campaign: Martin Necas, Mikko rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, Andrew Cogliano, and Jack Johnson.
Nelson’s goal fits neatly with the kind of season he had a year ago. He scored 33 goals in 81 games for the Avalanche, marking the fourth time in his career that he finished with more than 30.
Colorado’s power play, meanwhile, is still looking to prove itself after a rough year. The Avalanche finished 27th in the NHL last season with a 17.1% conversion rate on the man-advantage, and that lack of production was a major reason their postseason fell short.
That makes early momentum even more important for this group. The Avalanche enter every season with the same goal as everybody else, but they’ve been a real Stanley Cup contender throughout head coach Jared Bednar’s tenure since his second season in the league.
And while scoring first gives a team a chance to settle in and put the pressure on the other side, the opener is only the beginning. Colorado still has to finish the job, something it has handled well in the past. The Kings were a manageable matchup in last postseason’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, but this is a new year, and nobody in the Avalanche locker room can afford to ease up.
In Other News...
Nathan MacKinnon Gave Avalanche Fans A Wild Opening Night Debate
Opening night had plenty of offense for Colorado, but Nathan MacKinnon still found a way to create a different kind of buzz. The Avalanche star dropped the gloves with Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke during the 2026-27 NHL regular-season opener, then later said he was the one who challenged Clarke after an exchange earlier in the game.
The fight did not slow MacKinnon down much from an on-ice standpoint, either. He finished with two goals in Colorados 8-4 win, turning a tense moment into just another part of a night that gave Avalanche fans plenty to talk about beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Nathan MacKinnon Sent An Early Message Avalanche Fans Loved
Opening night had the usual buzz around the Avalanche, but Nathan MacKinnon added a jolt of edge right away against the Kings. After a hit on Cale Makar, MacKinnon went after Brandt Clarke and dropped the gloves, a rare scene for a player known far more for his offense than for spending time in the penalty box.
It was MacKinnons ninth career fight and his first since 2022, a reminder that even Colorados most dynamic star can still set a tone the old-fashioned way. The Avalanche rolled to an 8-4 win, and the sequence stood out as much for what it said about the teams response as for the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Opened With Firepower But One Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Avalanche came out flying in their season opener and left little doubt about their offensive ceiling in an 8-4 win over the Kings. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, Brock Nelson added three points, and Colorados power play looked sharp right away, cashing in on four of five chances.
Even with that kind of firepower, the game also showed why the opener can be such a useful reality check. Colorado gave up four goals, including two while shorthanded, and Mackenzie Blackwood faced 31 shots in his debut with the club, stopping 27 of them. The attack was obvious from the start, but the details on the other end are the part fans will keep watching. [Read more 🡒]