Nichushkin nets hat trick, Avalanche rally to roll past Leafs 7-4
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/03/2025 (247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
DENVER (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin completed a hat trick with an empty-net goal after Nathan MacKinnon knocked in the go-ahead goal with 4:15 remaining and the Colorado Avalanche rallied from two goals down to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4 on Saturday night.
It was Nichushkin’s first three-goal game of the regular season. He also had a hat trick in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series in 2024. Nichushkin tied his career-high with four points.
With Colorado on the power play, MacKinnon sent a wrist shot over the glove of Anthony Stolarz to give Colorado the lead. The Avalanche tied the game on Jonathan Drouin’s goal with 8:05 left. It was part of five consecutive goals for Colorado after trailing 4-2 in the second period.
Joel Kiviranta also scored and MacKinnon closed it out with an empty-netter for the Avalanche, who improved to 5-0 on their six-game homestand.
MacKinnon’s two goals extended his home points streak to 19 games. He also moved one point away from 1,000 for his career.
Mackenzie Blackwood allowed four goals on 21 shots.
Mitch Marner and John Tavares each had two goals and Auston Matthews added three assists for Toronto. Stolarz finished with 27 saves.
Both teams featured new-look lineups following Friday’s trade deadline. The Avalanche added centres Charlie Coyle and Brock Nelson. The Maple Leafs brought in defenceman Brandon Carlo and forward Scott Laughton.
TAKEAWAYS
Maple Leafs: Marner’s two goals gave him 21 for the season for his fifth straight 20-goal season.
Avalanche: The Avalanche have used 46 players this season. It’s the most since the team moved to Denver in 1995-96.
KEY MOMENT
Nelson and Coyle recorded assists in their debuts with the Avalanche.
KEY STAT
Matthews had his 56th career three-point game.
UP NEXT
Maple Leafs: Visit the Utah Hockey Club on Monday.
Avalanche: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl