Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen Lead Avalanche Past Flames 5-2
Makar had four assists, Lehkonen scored twice and Blackwood made 25 saves as Colorado beat Calgary and won for the third time in four games.
Colorado got the kind of response it needed against Calgary: a 5-2 home win powered by Cale Makar’s four assists, Artturi Lehkonen’s two goals and Mackenzie Blackwood’s 25 saves. The Avalanche built a 4-0 lead, absorbed a Flames push in the third period and restored their cushion before Calgary could turn the game into a closer finish.
The victory moved Colorado to 8-5-1. It was the team’s second straight win and its third in four games, a useful stretch for a club trying to establish more consistency. Saturday’s result offered plenty to like, though the two goals allowed after going up four remain part of the night’s story.
Makar and Lehkonen give Colorado its offensive punch
Makar’s four assists made him the game’s first star and put his influence across the Avalanche attack on clear display. He helped set up scoring chances for both MacKinnon and Lehkonen, then assisted on the goal that put the game out of Calgary’s reach. For a defenseman, that kind of night can change the shape of a game: Colorado got a steady source of offense from the back end while its forwards finished the chances.
That production also matters with Josh Manson sidelined. Colorado needs Makar to take on more responsibility on defense, and his offensive impact gives the team another way to make that added workload count. The performance doesn’t erase the challenge of managing a blue line without Manson, but it showed how much Makar can contribute when the Avalanche need him to drive play.
Lehkonen’s two goals brought his season total to 12 and extended his point streak to nine games. His second came at 4:09 of the third period, when he redirected Makar’s shot from the point past Arsenii Sergeev. The timing was decisive: Calgary had cut the deficit to two, and Lehkonen’s finish restored Colorado’s three-goal margin.
The scoring came from several parts of the lineup. MacKinnon opened the game’s scoring in the first period. Martin Necas added a power-play goal early in the second, converting a cross-ice pass from Nazem Kadri. Brock Nelson then made it 4-0 midway through the period by redirecting Gabriel Landeskog’s centering pass. Colorado’s spread of scorers gives opponents more to contend with than a single line or player.
Blackwood steadies Colorado through Calgary’s push
A four-goal lead suggested a comfortable night, but Calgary found a way back into the contest. Martin Pospisil scored about two minutes into the third period to make it 4-1, and the Flames added another goal to pull within 4-2. The Avalanche had to manage a different kind of game after spending much of the night in control.
Blackwood’s 25 saves helped prevent the comeback from gathering more speed. He made an early glove stop on Matt Coronato that drew attention as a possible early-season save of the year, then continued to handle Calgary’s chances as the Flames searched for momentum. His work gave Colorado time to settle after the deficit narrowed.
Lehkonen’s goal at 4:09 supplied the needed answer. Makar sent the puck toward the net, and Lehkonen redirected it past Sergeev to make it 5-2. The goal restored breathing room and ended Calgary’s best chance to make the final stretch uncomfortable.
There’s still a detail for Colorado to address. Letting a 4-0 lead shrink to 4-2 is not the clean finish the team would want, especially as it looks to build consistency. But the Avalanche responded when Calgary pressed, got a timely stop from Blackwood and finished the night with a three-goal win.
Saturday wasn’t a flawless performance, but it brought together several things Colorado needs: Makar creating offense, Lehkonen scoring consistently, contributions from multiple forwards and a goaltender who could steady the game when the opponent pushed. The next step is carrying that balance forward while keeping a commanding lead from becoming a late test.
