Avalanche cave in struggling Senators with offensive explosion
Brock Nelson scored twice in Colorado's six-goal outburst in the second period, Josh Manson had two goals and two assists, and the Avalanche routed the Ottawa Senators 8-2 in Denver on Thursday night.
Manson's two goals and four points are career-highs in one game, and he also fought.
Colorado scored five times in a span of 6 minutes, 18 seconds, to blow open a close game. Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and three assists to pull within one point of Connor McDavid for the NHL scoring lead with 78 points (36 goals, 42 assists).
Cale Makar had a goal and two assists, Martin Necas added a goal and an assist, Ross Colton had three assists and Scott Wedgewood turned away 29 shots for the Avalanche, who have won 16 straight at home, where they remain unbeaten in regulation (18-0-2).
Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk scored and Mads Sogaard made 11 saves after replacing Leevi Merilainen for Ottawa, which has dropped three in a row and six of its last eight. Merilainen returned at the start of the third period and finished with 15 saves.
Manson and MacKinnon scored in the first period and Makar made it 3-0 early in the second period to chase Merilainen, who allowed three goals on Colorado's first 12 shots.
Pinto cut it to 3-1 at 5:03 of the second period and the Senators appeared to make it 3-2 a few moments later but the Avalanche successfully challenged for offside and the goal was disallowed.
Colorado started its scoring barrage midway through the second. Necas made it 4-1 on a 5-on-3 power play at 11:46 and Brent Burns scored 17 seconds later.
The Avalanche went back on the power play and Nelson scored his first of the night at 14:23, Manson got his second of the game at 16:48 and Nelson scored again at 18:04 of the second.
Nelson, who added an assist, has five goals and two assists in his last four games.
Things got chippy in the third period. Sam Girard and Tim Stutzle fought early in the frame and Pinto went off for roughing at 5:55, but Tkachuk scored a short-handed goal at 7:03.