Nelson's Four-Point Game Leads Avalanche Past Canadiens 7-2

Saturday Success

Brock Nelson posted two goals and two assists to help the Avalanche defeat the Montreal Canadiens 7-2 on Saturday at Ball Arena. Gabriel Landeskog scored twice, Brent Burns, Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews each scored once, while Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced. Additionally, Martin Necas posted three assists while Artturi Lehkonen recorded two helpers.

"I feel good," Nelson said. "I think our line has been doing some good things. Today, we got a couple off the rush [and] generated a few chances off the cycles as well. I think as of late, [we've had] better numbers to show for what we've done."

With the win, the Avalanche improved to 18-1-6.

"They're coming together," Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar said about the Ross Colton-Nelson-Landeskog line. "I've liked a lot of their games here recently and tonight they kind of set the tone for us. They were our best line."

How It Happened

Nelson opened the scoring at 7:32 of the first period with his seventh goal of the season and 600th-career point via a wrist shot from the slot off the rush set up by Lehkonen's feed.

At 13:25 of the first period, Landeskog doubled Colorado's lead with his fourth goal of the season when he deflected Nelson's shot from the slot while being pushed into the goal. Montreal challenged the tally for goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld.

"He looked like he had great legs again tonight," Bednar said about Landeskog. "And he was awesome last night, especially in the third period against [Minnesota]. So, it's starting to come together for him. Looks confident. Looks like he's finding his game again."

Burns gave the Avs a 3-0 lead at 50 seconds of the middle frame with his third goal of the season via a shot from the high slot after Nelson won the right-circle faceoff back to him.

That goal stood as the game-winner and the 45th of Burns' career, which is now the third most among defensmen in NHL history, passing Denis Potvin and Al MacInnis.

The Avs took a 4-0 lead at 3:55 of the middle frame when Nelson scored his second goal of the game and eighth of the season via a shot from the right doorstep set up by Necas' perfect backhand feed.

"That was something special," Nelson said about Necas' pass. "I was still thinking I was disappointed in my breakaway shot, and then Marty came over. He sold it. I thought he was going to rip a back-hander and bury it backside. That was an unbelievable play.

Ivan Demidov put the Canadiens on the board with a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle at 8:27 of the second period.

While the teams were playing at four-on-four, MacKinnon gave the Avs a 5-1 lead with his 20th goal of the season at 19:05 of the second period via a left-circle shot when he cleaned up the rebound created by Landeskog attempt on a two-on-one rush.

Toews gave the Avs a 6-1 lead with his first goal of the season at 2:51 of the third period when his centering pass deflected off a Canadiens player's skate and in at the end of a two-on-one rush with Necas, who set up the goal.

At 6:52 of the third period, Landeskog scored his second goal of the game and fifth of the season with a power-play tally via a net-front redirect on MacKinnon's feed.

Next Up

The Avalanche concludes its two-game homestand on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks at 7 p.m. MT on Altitude, Altitude+ and Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM.