CALGARY, Alta. (AP) — Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen each scored two goals, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Nathan MacKinnon, JT Compher and Devon Toews each had two assists as Colorado (23-17-3) earned its third straight victory. MacKinnon had four goals and nine assists during a six-game point streak.
Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev made 34 saves to improve his record to 17-11-3.
“It feels really good,” said Georgiev, who made his first start in four games. “I had a little break in playing time, a little refreshment for the mind. I would say the guys did such a good job.
Tyler Toffoli scored for Calgary (21-16-9) in its second straight loss. Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves.
The Avalanche took a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes.
“Good first-half execution,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “We were disciplined with the puck. We were making games.
“I won a few power plays through hard work and took advantage of our chances.”
Following a turnover in the defensive zone for the Flames, Compher set up Rantanen for a one-timer that went into the goal post 6:17 into the game.
Another Calgary error led to a second goal for Colorado. An errant pass after winning a faceoff in the offensive zone resulted in a 2-on-1 run in which MacKinnon set up Lehkonen at 11:01.
Less than two minutes later, Lehkonen scored his second of the night and his fifth of his last three games. Rantanen’s point shot whistled away from the Calgary net, but the rebound from the end boards popped up the other side and Lehkonen buried it over Markstrom as he slid through.
“Right away, even though the shots were pretty close, they had every chance and we were flat and slow,” Flames center Elias Lindholm said.
After a scoreless second period, the Flames stopped Georgiev’s shutout attempt on the power play 2:27 into the third. Toffoli got his 16th of the season.
Rantanen put the game aside with an empty net with 58 seconds left.
“That’s what more we need to do,” he said. “Just be ready to play from the start of the puck (drop) so if the opposing team isn’t on their toes we can take advantage of that and that’s what we did.”
MAKAR DISAPPEARED
Colorado played without defending Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, who was sidelined against his hometown team with an undisclosed injury. It is listed daily.
Makar, 24, leads the NHL in average ice time (27:09).
“It is obviously impossible to replace Cale, the best D in the world. I think we came together as a team,” Rantanen said.
THIRTY MORE GOALS
Rantanen’s first goal was his 30th of the season, giving him three consecutive 30-plus-goal seasons and four for his career. He is also the fastest to reach the 30-goal mark since the franchise moved to Colorado (43 games). Joe Sakic had done it in 44 games in 1995-96.
NEXT
Avalanche: In Vancouver Friday night.
Flames: hosts Tampa Bay on Saturday.
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