Avalanche Score Four in Third to End Devils' Winning Run

The Colorado Avalanche broke open a tied game with four third-period goals to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 in Denver on Wednesday night, ending the visitors' four-game winning streak. Nazem Kadri and Parker Kelly scored 62 seconds apart early in the final period to turn a 2-2 game into a two-goal lead, before Nathan MacKinnon scored on a breakaway and Jaden Schwartz added another just 30 seconds later to put the result beyond doubt. Gabriel Landeskog had earlier levelled the game on the power play in the second period after Connor Brown's short-handed opener gave New Jersey the lead, and Brown scored again late for his second of the night. There was also a milestone for veteran Brent Burns, whose two assists moved him into tenth place all-time in points by a defenseman with 950. Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves for Colorado, while Jake Allen stopped 39 shots for New Jersey. The night also brought a concern for the Avalanche, who lost defenseman Josh Manson to a lower-body injury late in the first period after he twisted awkwardly along the boards and did not return. For New Jersey, a four-game winning run ends with a reminder of how quickly a game can slip away against a team that can score in bursts.