WTPU: Colorado Avalanche open the 2026-27 season with a banger

The Colorado Avalanche kicked off their 2026-27 NHL regular season with an 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. Nathan MacKinnon contributed two goals and a fight, Artturi Lehkonen scored two goals, and Brock Nelson recorded a three-point performance. In total, six different Avalanche players found the net and eight registered multi-point games.

Despite the offensive outburst, head coach Jared Bednar highlighted defensive and execution issues, specifically criticizing early puck management and rush coverage. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and the top power-play unit conceded two short-handed goals, though Colorado's second power-play unit offset the miscues by scoring three times.