TORONTO (AP) — Brock Nelson scored twice in 1:12 of the first period and added an empty-net hat trick for the fifth career hat trick as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1 on Sunday.
Jack Drury also scored to help NHL-leading Colorado improve to 35-6-9. Mackenzie Blackwood made 32 saves.
advertise
Colorado became just the fourth team in NHL history to lose six or fewer games in 50 games, joining the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers (35-3-12), the 1943-44 Montreal Canadiens (38-5-7) and the 1975-76 Canadiens (36-6-8).
The last team to score at least 77 points in 50 games was the 2022-23 Boston Bruins (38-7-5), who went on to set an NHL season wins record with 65 games.
Max Domi had a late power-play goal for the Toronto Raptors and Joseph Woll stopped 33 shots. The Maple Leafs’ record is 24-19-9.
The Maple Leafs won 4-3 in overtime in Denver on Jan. 12, but have lost six of seven games (1-4-2), including an 8-0-2 run that included a poor start to their current five home games at 0-3-1.
advertise
Colorado became just the fourth team in NHL history to lose six or fewer games in 50 games, joining the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers (35-3-12), the 1943-44 Montreal Canadiens (38-5-7) and the 1975-76 Canadiens (36-6-8).
The last team to score at least 77 points in 50 games was the 2022-23 Boston Bruins (38-7-5), who went on to set an NHL season wins record with 65 games.
Nelson opened the scoring 6:19 into the first of the two-on-one period and added his second goal just over a minute later by sneaking a pass off Artturi Lehkonen’s stick from behind the Wall net. He has 27 goals this season.
Nelson tied Alex DeBrincat and Kyle Connor – both with eight – for the third-most goals among active American players with 25 goals in a season. Leading that list are Patrick Kane (11) and Toronto captain Auston Matthews (10).
Next
Avalanche: At Ottawa on Wednesday night.
Maple Leafs: Host Buffalo on Tuesday night.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
