Avalanche Crush Flames, Inch Closer to Division Title

Nazem Kadri and fourth line lead Colorado's offensive onslaught in 9-2 rout

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:49am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game with overlapping planes of color representing the players and action, conveying the Avalanche's dominant performance over the Flames.The Avalanche's offensive onslaught overwhelms the Flames in a lopsided victory that keeps Colorado on track for the division and conference titles.Denver Today

The Colorado Avalanche dominated the Calgary Flames from start to finish, winning 9-2 at home on Monday night. Nazem Kadri scored two power-play goals, the fourth line had a big night, and the Avalanche took a major step toward clinching the Central Division and Western Conference's top seed.

Why it matters

The Avalanche's convincing win over a rebuilding Flames team keeps them on track to win their division and conference, putting them in prime position for a deep playoff run. Colorado's depth and special teams have been key to their success this season.

The details

Colorado scored five first-period goals, including two power-play tallies from Kadri, to take a commanding lead. Jack Drury, Parker Kelly, and Martin Necas also had multi-point games for the Avalanche. Cale Makar left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury, but the Avalanche still cruised to the lopsided victory.

  • The Avalanche scored five goals in the first 20 minutes of the game.
  • Nazem Kadri scored two power-play goals in a 66-second span in the first period.
  • Cale Makar left the game in the second period due to an upper-body injury.

The players

Nazem Kadri

A veteran forward who scored two power-play goals for the Avalanche.

Cale Makar

The Avalanche's star defenseman, who had three assists before leaving the game with an injury.

Parker Kelly

A depth forward who had a three-point night for Colorado.

Jack Drury

A young forward who scored the opening goal and added two assists for the Avalanche.

Scott Wedgewood

The Avalanche's goaltender, who made 27 saves in the win.

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What they’re saying

“This was not a fair fight. The Colorado Avalanche, smarting from a loss two days prior, were locked in from the opening shift Monday night and obliterated the rebuilding Calgary Flames, 9-2, at Ball Arena.”

— Corey Masisak, Author

What’s next

With the win, Colorado's magic number to clinch the Central Division and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference is down to eight points, either gained by the Avs in their final nine contests or lost by the Dallas Stars in their last eight games.

The takeaway

The Avalanche's dominant performance, led by their depth players and special teams, shows they are rounding into form at the right time as they close in on securing the top seed in the Western Conference.