March 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Colorado Avalanche center Martin Necas (88) scores a goal against the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Image Parker Kelly scored twice, Cale Makar had a goal and two assists, and the visiting Colorado Avalanche beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Gabriel Landeskog and Martin Necas also scored, and Brock Nelson and Jack Drury each had two assists for Colorado, which has won its third straight win. The Avalanche, who have an NHL-high 91 points, remain six points ahead of the Dallas Stars in straight sets in the Central Division before the teams meet in Texas on Friday.
Avalanche goalie Scott Wedgewood stopped 27 shots.
Cutter Gauthier scored his sixth goal in the last six games and Lucas Dostal made 21 saves for Anaheim, which snapped a five-game winning streak. The Ducks had won eight straight at home before Tuesday’s loss, but had not lost in Vegas in the Pacific Division.
The Golden Knights, who lost 3-2 to Buffalo on Tuesday, lead the team with 70 points, one more than Anaheim. The Ducks played one less game.
Colorado, which won 4-2 over Los Angeles on Monday, was held scoreless after stopping two penalties in the first eight minutes of Tuesday’s game. Makar gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead when he beat Dostal with a wrister from the slot midway through the first period.
Necas made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at 14:05 of the first, his fifth goal in five games since the NHL season resumed. He scored 27 goals, one shy of his career high set with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022-23.
Gauthier briefly put Anaheim in the game when he scored 4:50 into the second period, but Kelly restored the two-goal lead with his first score of the night at 15:03 of the middle frame.
Colorado stopped it in the third period. Landeskog scored a one-timer off a feed from Nathan MacKinnon to make it 4-1 with 4:35 to play. It was the second goal in as many nights.
It was also MacKinnon’s 100th point of the season. He reached his 100th point for the fourth consecutive season. He trails Edmonton’s Connor McDavid by five points in the scoring race.
Kelly scored his 15th point of the season, his most in overtime, at 10:06.
–Field level media
