Avalanche Crush Flames 9-2 With 5-Goal First Period

Nazem Kadri scores twice on the power play as Colorado dominates Calgary

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:51am

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring swirling neon brushstrokes and fragmented hockey players, capturing the raw intensity of the Avalanche's dominant victory over the Flames.The Avalanche's offensive onslaught overwhelms the Flames in a high-scoring affair that showcases the team's explosive potential.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche routed the Calgary Flames 9-2 on Monday night, scoring five goals in the first period to cruise to victory. Nazem Kadri scored two power-play goals, Nathan MacKinnon netted his NHL-leading 49th goal, and the Avalanche got contributions from several players in the lopsided win.

Why it matters

The Avalanche's dominant performance extends their lead atop the NHL standings and underscores their status as a top Stanley Cup contender. The loss is a setback for the Flames, who had been playing well recently but were no match for Colorado's offensive firepower.

The details

Colorado jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first period, with Kadri scoring two power-play goals just over a minute apart. Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Parker Kelly also found the back of the net in the opening frame. The Avalanche continued to pour it on in the second and third periods, getting goals from Martin Necas, Sam Malinski, and Artturi Lehkonen. Brennan Othmann and Ryan Strome scored for the Flames, but it was not enough to mount a comeback.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 31, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

The players

Nazem Kadri

A forward for the Colorado Avalanche who scored two power-play goals in the first period.

Nathan MacKinnon

The Avalanche's star center, who scored his NHL-leading 49th goal and added two assists.

Cale Makar

The Avalanche defenseman who had three assists but left the game in the third period due to an upper-body injury.

Brennan Othmann

A forward for the Calgary Flames who scored one of their two goals.

Ryan Strome

A forward for the Calgary Flames who scored their other goal.

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What they’re saying

“We came out flying and really set the tone early. That's the kind of start we need to have if we want to make a deep playoff run.”

— Nazem Kadri, Avalanche forward

What’s next

The Avalanche will look to continue their strong play as they push for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Flames will try to regroup and get back on track after this lopsided defeat.

The takeaway

The Avalanche's dominant performance showcased their offensive firepower and reinforced their status as one of the NHL's elite teams. However, the injury to Cale Makar is a concern that bears watching as Colorado aims to make a deep playoff run.