SALT LAKE CITY — The Colorado Avalanche didn’t have superstar Nathan MacKinnon on Wednesday night, but they did have Parker Kelly and a bunch of other Olympians.
Kelly created a highlight-reel goal, while Brock Nelson and Martin Necas scored in their first game back from the 2026 Winter Olympics to help the Avs defeat the Utah Mammoth, 4-2, at Delta Center. Scott Wedgewood made 30 saves to collect the win.
MacKinnon did not play because of “maintenance,” per a team spokesman. Avs coach Jared Bednar said MacKinnon is dealing with some minor ailments on the club’s pregame radio show, but the 2024 MVP should be OK to play Thursday night at Ball Arena against the Minnesota Wild.
After a scoreless first period, there was an offensive explosion in the middle frame.
Kelly collected the puck in his own end and then skated through four Utah defenders before wiring a shot past Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka at 3:26 of the period. That will be one of the Colorado goals of the season, and it extended Kelly’s career-best total to 13.
Kelly helped set up the second goal less than six minutes later. He used his body to keep the puck in the offensive zone near the blue line before sending it to Sam Malinski. The Avs defenseman set up Victor Olofsson in the right circle for his 11th of the season at 9:13.
That is Olofsson’s first goal away from Ball Arena this year. This was also his first game since the birth of his daughter, Viola, on Feb. 10 during the Olympic break.
Dylan Guenther scored the first of his two goals in the period with a one-timer on the power play to help Utah cut the lead in half at 10:49. Nelson, fresh off helping the United States win gold in men’s hockey for the first time in 46 years, answered for the Avs with his 30th of the season at 12:20 of the period.
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Guenther answered right back 60 seconds later with a snap shot from between the hash marks. That capped a frenetic stretch of four goals in 4:07 between the two clubs.
These two teams ranked 31st and 32nd in the NHL on the power play at the Olympic break, but both clubs scored with the extra man in this one. Colorado’s came on its first opportunity.
Necas, who was Czechia’s best player in Milan, stayed hot. Cale Makar teed him up for a one-timer in the left circle and he blasted it past Vejmelka at 17:17 of the second to put the Avs back in front by two goals. It was his 23rd goal of the season.
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