Colorado Avalanche 7-2 Montreal Canadiens
The Western Conference-leading Colorado Avalanche scored another convincing win, beating the visiting Montreal Canadiens 7-2. Brock Nelson and Gabriel Landeskog put the hosts in front in the first period, where the Avs outshot the Habs 20-17.
Things got worse for the Canadiens very quickly. Brent Burns scored just 50 seconds after the first intermission to make it 3-0, before Nelson netted his second three minutes later. Ivan Demidov did get Montreal on the board eight and a half minutes into the period.
That did little to tame the Avalanche, who added a fifth just before the second intermission. Nathan MacKinnon finished his chance to pile on the lead for Colorado.
Devon Toews scored a sixth less than three minutes into the third, with Lane Hutson adding a consolation for the Canadiens. Landeskog rounded out the scoring moments later, completing a solid performance from the Avalanche.
After 25 games, the Avs have already recorded 17 regulation-time wins, which is four better than the next best teams. They hold a six-point lead at the top of the Western Conference as well.
The Canadiens saw their three-game winning streak come to an end following the defeat, but still sit seventh in the East.
Pittsburgh Penguins 2-7 Toronto Maple Leafs
Just like Colorado, the Toronto Maple Leafs also hit seven in their match. However, the Buds did so on the road in Pittsburgh, whre they topped the Penguins 7-2.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson put the Leafs in front 6:46 into the game, finishing from close range to put his side ahead. The lead would not last long though, as Benjamin Kindel tied things up 88 seconds later on a power play.
Easton Cowel restored Toronto's lead midway through the period, and from there, the guests ran away with it. Bobby McMann and Dakota Joshua got in on the goals early in the second. That saw the Penguins opt for a goaltending change, with Tristan Jarry replacing Arturs Silovs.
Pittsburgh lasted nine minutes without conceding with their new netminder. Unfortunately for them, Nicolas Roy added the fifth on a man advantage.
Sidney Crosby did score the Penguins' second of the night shortly after the third period commenced. But that was the best it got for the hosts. Auston Matthews and Nick Robertson rounded out the scoring in the match later on, giving the Leafs their second win in their last three games.
The Penguins sit eighth in the East, suffering their seventh regulation loss of the season. The Leafs are second-to-last in the conference, despite scoring the joint-most goals.
Other scores
New York Rangers 1-4 Tampa Bay Lightning
Seattle Kraken 0-4 Edmonton Oilers
New Jersey Devils 3-5 Philadelphia Flyers
Nashville Predators 2-5 Winnipeg Jets
Boston Bruins 3-2 Detroit Red Wings (SO)
St. Louis Blues 1-0 Utah Mammoth
Minnesota Wild 2-3 Buffalo Sabres (SO)
Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings 2-1 Vancouver Canucks (OT)