In the first-ever matchup between the Colorado Avalanche and the Utah Hockey Club, it would be the visiting team taking care of business. The Avs went into Salt Lake City and got a big 5-1 win to end the road trip.
The Avs went from 0-4 to 4-4 just like that with the perfect road trip record. Now coming home for the next three games, Colorado will look to keep it rolling on home ice. Here's how it all went down at the Delta Center.
First Period
After the Avs killed off an early Josh Manson holding penalty, they would turn up the offense themselves. Sam Girard had a shot from the near circle hit the stick of Karel Vejmellka before going out of play. Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar connected on a few nice passing plays which led to some chances, and it wouldn't be the last ones they found.
Utah got itself into penalty trouble with Michael Kesselring hooking Ross Colton, and then Ian Cole having a near knee-on-knee hit with Casey Mittelstadt which drew a crowd. Colorado made them pay on the power play, with Colton scoring once again on the man advantage to take the lead.
At the other end, Justus Annunen was mostly quiet. But, Clayton Keller and the Hockey Club's first line had a good shift with six minutes left which tested the Avs netminder, who took care of business.
His work at one end would help his team's effort at the other. In the closing minutes, Rantanen and Makar would connect again on a passing play, leading Makar in and his shot trickled through Vejmelka and across the goal line to double the lead heading into the room.
Second Period
After killing off yet another early Manson penalty, the Avs got some odd-man rushes with Parker Kelly and Logan O'Connor, plus Nathan MacKinnon and Rantanen but couldn't find the twine.
Colorado avoided disaster on a shorthanded Kevin Stenlund breakaway chance and eventually made Utah pay. Nikolai Kovalenko set up Sam Malinski for a nice wraparound attempt, which was finished off in front of the net by Casey Mittelstadt with ease.
Miles Wood nearly added on moments later, and Rantanen had his shot on the next power play opportunity saved off the line. But it wouldn't matter as just seconds later, Ivan Ivan ripped home his first career NHL goal from Colton's spot to make it a 4-0 game with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Third Period
Colorado played the first half of the period with ease, slowing play down and shutting down the Utah offense. They came close and evened up the shots at one point, and eventually broke through.
Annunen's shutout would be broken by Lawson Crouse breaking through the Avalanche defense to beat the big Fin. But just 39 seconds later, Joel Kiviranta continued his current hot streak as he snapped one home to make it 5-1. It would be all she wrote in a nice win at the Delta Center for Colorado.
Takeaways
After starting the season 0-4, including dropping two of three on home ice, the Avalanche have roared back to .500 with a 4-4 record with this West Coast road trip sweep. It has been led by the performances in the crease. Alexandar Georgiev won the first game of the season against the Anaheim Ducks last Friday, but it has been Justus Annunen's net since. He has been brilliant, recording 24 saves tonight, and hasn't given up more than two goals in his starts this season. Jared Bednar has mentioned he is riding with the hot hand, suggesting it's Annunen's net until otherwise told - and it seems to be the case with newly-acquired Kaapo Kahkonen heading down to the AHL with the Colorado Eagles for the time being.
In terms of the skaters on the ice, there was also plenty to love. Makar has continued his excellent start to the season, now recording at least one point in each of the first eight games. Rantanen was a moose on the loose, recording two assists and setting up great passing plays all night long, picking the Utah defense apart. Kiviranta continued his hot streak, scoring his fourth goal in three games. Ivan finally opened his scoring account after getting close before. Kovalenko also had himself a two-point night, while Mittelstadt and Colton each got on the scoreboard and continued to find the back of the net. The only downside is the latter of those two names left in the second period and did not return to the game with an upper-body injury. Hopefully, Colton won't be out long-term in what is already a depleted-forward lineup.
Tonight was interesting to see history starting for this "new" matchup. It's the first of many matchups at the Delta Center between the Avs and Utah in what fans are proclaiming to be the next big rivalry. There certainly were some chippy moments in this game, but nothing too big boiled over in the end. The old Arizona Coyotes and the Avalanche had their chippy moments against one another in years past, and it just may carry over just on the other side of the Rockies. This was also the first game broadcast on TV on 9News and Channel 20 locally in Denver, along with Altitude+ streaming their first Avalanche game. Overall, there were lots of neat things about this game that will make interesting trivia answers one day.
Upcoming
The Avs return home for three games in four games, starting against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. MT.