Martin Necas netted two goals, and Nathan MacKinnon became the Colorado Avalanche’s all-time leading scorer as the team opened the 2025-26 NHL season with a commanding 4-1 road victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.
The contest at Crypto.com Arena saw a slow start with a scoreless first period, but the Avalanche exploded in the second frame. Just 48 seconds in, Martin Necas fired a wrist shot from the right circle to give Colorado a 1-0 lead, with Nathan MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen providing the assists. This early goal set the stage for a dominant period where the Avalanche outshot and outplayed the Kings, controlling the pace of the game and building momentum for the remainder of the match.
MacKinnon’s assist on Necas’s opening goal was historic, marking his 1,016th point to surpass Joe Sakic for the most in Avalanche history since the franchise’s relocation. Sakic remains the overall franchise leader including the Quebec Nordiques era. MacKinnon, who now has 367 goals and 649 assists in 871 games, received accolades from teammates, with captain Gabriel Landeskog highlighting his role as a nightly driver of the team’s offense and consistency in breaking records.
Necas continued his strong performance, adding a second goal on the power play at 10:43 of the third period with a precise wrist shot from the right circle, assisted by Cale Makar and Brock Nelson. Coach Jared Bednar had urged Necas to shoot more, and this game demonstrated his potential as a goal-scorer, building on his 28 points in 30 games last season after being acquired in a trade. His versatility and offensive skill were on full display, contributing significantly to the win.
Colorado’s scoring was bolstered by contributions across the lineup. Defenseman Sam Malinski made it 2-0 at 7:00 of the second period with a long shot through traffic, and Lehkonen extended the lead to 3-0 at 14:42 by tapping in a rebound from Makar. Makar finished with two assists, while MacKinnon added another helper, tying him for most assists in season openers among active players. The balanced attack underscored the team’s depth and cohesion early in the season.
The Kings, who had the NHL’s best home record last season, struggled to generate offense until the third period. Kevin Fiala scored on a two-man advantage at 15:06, cutting the deficit to 4-1 with a one-timer set up by Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. Kopitar, in his final season, recorded an assist and was honored by fans, but the team acknowledged their slow start and need for improvement, with defenseman Drew Doughty noting they failed to play their style.
A subplot of the game was the return of Gabriel Landeskog, who played in his first season opener since 2021 after missing extensive time due to a knee injury. He saw 11:12 of ice time, took one shot, and won five of seven face-offs, showing signs of his former self and providing a morale boost for the Avalanche. His presence added veteran stability and energy to the lineup, enhancing the team’s overall performance.
This victory positions the Avalanche as early contenders in the Central Division, with depth and star power on display. For the Kings, it’s a reminder of the challenges in a competitive Pacific Division, as they look to bounce back in Kopitar’s farewell tour. Both teams will continue their seasons with upcoming games, setting the stage for an exciting NHL campaign filled with potential storylines and competitive matchups.