The Colorado Avalanche started December with their second meeting of the 2025-2026 season against the Vancouver Canucks. The last time these two teams met, the Avalanche won 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 9 in Vancouver. The Canucks have won two games in their last ten games and were looking to snap a two-game losing streak. As for the Avalanche, they won their previous game against the Montreal Canadiens and were looking to extend their point streak to 17 games. As the last horn sounded, the Avalanche defeated the Canucks 3-1 to extend their points streak.
Summary of the game
In the first twenty minutes there were two goals, one from each side. It was the Canucks’ Linus Karlsson who scored the first goal of the game after receiving a cross-ice, cross-crease pass from Arshdeep Bains. He tried to get the puck on his backhand at the last minute and stretch it past Scott Wedgewood’s long leg. It was his fifth of the season, putting the Canucks up 1-0 just under three minutes into the game.
Related: Colorado Avalanche’s 3 stars of November
The Avalanche pressured Kevin Lankans and the Canucks throughout the period, to the point where they outscored the visitors 14-8 in the first period. At 7:23 of the period, who else but Nathan MacKinnon was the one to tie the game at 1-1. His 21st goal of the season and 45th point came after he picked up the rebound on a Devon Toews deflection attempt on a Sam Malinski shot. MacKinnon was Johnny on the spot and tied the game with less than a minute left in the opening frame.
There were two goals in the second period, both by the Avalanche. A little earlier, with six minutes left in the middle frame, Ross Colton made a play to find Gabriel Landesog, leading to a 2-on-1 for the captain. Landeskog found Brock Nelson and used him perfectly to score his ninth of the season. It was a smooth passing sequence by the Avalanche to take their first lead of the matchup.
MacKinnon, with less than a minute left in the period, again doubled the Avalanche lead to 3-1 after receiving a pass from Landesog right into his wheelhouse. He fired in the one-timer to give him his second goal of the game, and 22nd of the season. Landeskog’s assist was his second of the game, giving him nine on the season.
Related: Avalanche’s Scott Wedgewood has been a huge boost to early success
There were no goals in the third period, but the Avalanche held the two-goal lead until the final horn. They were outscored 9-5 in that period, but overall outscored the Canucks 31-22 after 60 minutes of play.
The Avalanche extend their point streak to 17 games, going 14-0-3 in that span. They are also 11-0-2 at home at Ball Arena this season. The win gives them a record of 18-1-6, and their next game is on Thursday, December 4 against the New York Islanders. As for the Canucks, they are 10-13-3 this season and are on a three-game losing streak. Their next game is on Friday, December 5 against the Utah Mammoth.
#goals #Nathan #MacKinnon #lead #Avalanches #win #Canucks #Hockey #Writers #Colorado #Avalanche #Latest #News #Analysis