The Colorado Avalanche opened their 2023-24 NHL season with an 8-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night at Ball Arena in Denver. Nathan MacKinnon led the Avalanche with two goals during a four-goal surge in the second period and also engaged in a rare fight late in the third.

MacKinnon, who recorded a career-high 53 goals last season and was named the 2024 league MVP, scored early in the second period on a five-on-three power play, putting Colorado ahead 4-2 less than 30 seconds into the frame. He added a second goal at 8:33 of the period, helping extend the Avalanche’s lead. The team capitalized on four power-play opportunities overall but allowed two short-handed goals.

Artturi Lehkonen contributed two goals for Colorado, while Brock Nelson added one goal and two assists. Mackenzie Blackwood, starting in net for the Avalanche, made 26 saves.

The Kings were led offensively by Trevor Moore, Joel Armia, and Brian Dumoulin, each scoring once. Darcy Kuemper, the Kings’ goaltender, stopped 21 shots. Los Angeles managed to score three times during the second period, closing the gap before Colorado’s late surge.

Late in the third period, MacKinnon dropped the gloves in a fight with Kings defenseman Brandt Clark as the Avalanche held a 6-4 lead. Shortly after, captain Gabriel Landeskog scored at just under a minute remaining, followed by Lehkonen’s second goal 63 seconds later to seal the victory.

In addition to the second-period power-play goals, Artemi Panarin added a goal for Colorado on a delayed penalty in the third period. The Avalanche’s ability to convert on special teams proved decisive in overcoming a resilient Kings squad in the season opener.