Postgame Wrap: Avalanche Score 4 in Third Period, Defeat Carolina Hurricanes 5-3

The latest victim of the Avalanche’s third-period dominance is the Carolina Hurricanes. Colorado trailed by two goals after two periods but still managed to win in regulation at the Lenovo Center.

Brock Nelson scored two power-play goals, Jack Drury tallied a goal in his return to Carolina, Gabe Landeskog added one, and MacKinnon had an empty-netter to help the Avs to a 5-3 victory on Saturday, extending their winning streak to 10 games.

Their four-goal third period helped them get their third win when trailing after 40 minutes (3-2-5). This is their second 10-game winning streak of the season, reaching the mark in just 40 games. Colorado is 31-2-7.

Martin Necas recorded an assist in his first game back in Carolina. Nathan MacKinnon also had three primary assists for his second consecutive four-point night. Cale Makar added two helpers. In goal, Scott Wedgewood made 25 saves as the Avs outshot Carolina 34-28.

Trailing 3-1, the Avalanche entered the final frame already far and away the most dominant third-period team in the league. They had a +34 goal differential coming in, and increased it to a +38, scoring the first three goals by the 7:30 mark. Second place Dallas is a +15 in the third period. That’s how much of a separation there is between the Avs and the rest of the league in those final 20 minutes.

Just 11 seconds into the period, the Avs drew a penalty to go on the power play. They were already 0-for-3 on the man advantage and had given up a shorthanded breakaway goal. But someway, somehow, the top unit grinded out a goal. MacKinnon put the puck on goal from the blueline after Carolina failed to clear the zone and Nelson, parked in front, redirected it past goalie Frederik Andersen. Necas was also there, making it difficult for the goalie to track the puck.

On the very next shift, Drury came into the zone and beat his former teammate off the wing. His seventh of the season came just 33 seconds after the Nelson goal, and it tied the game up at 1:42 of the second period.

But they weren’t done yet.

After drawing another penalty, the top PP unit was at it again. All the struggles of the the first two periods was erased. Makar sent a pass to MacKinnon, who took a fake shot before moving it to Nelson for a one-timer from the right circle. Nelson’s 18th of the year made it 4-3. And MacKinnon was later awarded an  empty net goal.

The scoring began in the first period with a shorthanded goal from Sebastian Aho, who was able to slide it thorugh Wedgewood’s five-hole after breaking in all alone.

The Avs got the game-tying goal from Landeskog. The captain scored a vintage Landeskog goal by overpowering Jordan Staal to finish a wrap-around that got past Andersen.

In the second period, the Canes got ahead with a power-play goal at 4:47 and added another tally from Andrei Svechnikov at 7:50 to go up 3-1. That was all they had offensively.

Good: Power Play Redeems Itself

I didn’t think there would be any chance that I would be positively highlighting the Avalanche’s power play. What began with a shorthanded goal against and three underwhelming power plays ended with a 40% success rate and the catalyst of an Avalanche comeback victory.

The power play was a mess before the third. They could barely get set up in the offensive zone, they gave up their fifth shorthanded goal of the season, and it seemed to be sucking the momentum out of their game.

Several of the stars were slamming their sticks on the boards after PP shifts. The frustrations were starting to mount.

I would have the same reaction if I had to watch the Avs power play pic.twitter.com/g83JKKssji

— Christian Bolle (@christian_bolle) January 4, 2026

But they somehow found a way in the third. They were fortunate that the Hurricanes couldn’t clear the zone before MacKinnon sent the puck toward the goal for Nelson to tip in. But sometimes you need some luck to help break out of a slump.

The second power play goal was a thing of beauty, though. It looked like they had more confidence moving the puck and they were able to capitalize. Kudos to Nelson for not only scoring, but for starting the play with a nice keep at the blueline. More of that.

Bad: Toews’ Third-Period Scare

Devon Toews left the game briefly in the third period after getting tripped up by Nikolaj Ehlers while chasing a puck behind the net. Ehlers got his stick on Toews’ skate just as the Avalanche defenseman was trying to slow up. He fell down and went hard into the boards.

It took a moment for him to gather himself but he left the ice on his own accord and returned several minutes later.

Ehlers was sent to the box for tripping and the Avs scored the second Nelson goal on the ensuing power play.

Devon Toews has left the game after going hard into the boards legs-first from a Nikolaj Ehlers trip 🤕 pic.twitter.com/zIrauVHpFz

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 4, 2026