National Hockey League
Colorado 3, Arizona 1
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, March 24, 2023
Where: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
Referees: Justin Kea, Frederick L'Ecuyer
Linesmen: Justin Johnson, Matt MacPherson
Attendance: 18136

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar had a goal and two assists each, J.T. Compher also had a goal and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-1 in Denver on Friday night.

Alexandar Georgiev turned away 17 shots and Valeri Nichushkin had two assists for Colorado. The Avalanche (42-23-6, 90 points) moved within two points of Central Division-leader Dallas with a game in hand on the Stars.

Clayton Keller scored and Karel Vejmelka had 27 saves for Arizona (27-34-12, 66 points).

Colorado got stronger on the back end with the return of defensemen Makar and Erik Johnson. Makar had missed the previous two games with a lower-body injury, and Johnson was out for 19 games with a broken ankle suffered at Florida on Feb. 11.

Makar made an immediate impact on the power play when he fed MacKinnon at 12:52 of the first period. It was MacKinnon's 31st of the season and extended his point streak to 11 games. He has recorded at least one point in 19 straight home games.

The Coyotes answered late in the first period when Nick Schmaltz chased down the puck along the boards, fed Keller in the slot, and Keller lifted a backhander by Georgiev at 18:57. It was Keller's 35th of the season and ninth in the past eight games. He also extended his point streak to 11 games.

Vejmelka made a sprawling save on a wraparound attempt by Makar late in the second and then had to make two saves on short-handed chances by the Avalanche.

Colorado continued to press and finally got the go-ahead goal in the third period. MacKinnon passed it to Makar at the top of the slot, and the defenseman sent a shot through traffic to make it 2-1 at 6:41. It was his 17th of the season.

The Avalanche added an insurance goal a few minutes later on a power play when Vejmelka made a save on Makar's shot but Compher put in the rebound at 11:17. It was his 16th goal of the season.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   Colorado
Clayton Keller 1 Points Nathan MacKinnon 3
Clayton Keller 1 Goals Nathan MacKinnon 1
J.J. Moser 1 Assists Nathan MacKinnon 2
N/A Power Play Goals Nathan MacKinnon 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Karel Vejmelka .900 Save Percentage Alexandar Georgiev .944
Karel Vejmelka 27 Saves Alexandar Georgiev 17
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Arizona 18 1 0-1 1-3 6 25
Colorado 30 3 2-3 1-1 2 27
Upcoming Games
  • Colorado will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The Avalanche have a W/L % of .619 after a win and .552 after a loss.
  • Arizona will play their next game at home against Colorado. The Coyotes have a W/L % of .370 after a win and .370 after a loss.