Hamilton, Makar Score First NHL Preseason Goals in Avalanche Win
Colorado opened the preseason with a 4-1 win over the Utah Mammoth on Sunday at Ball Arena, with two debutants finding the net.
Two players scoring in their first NHL preseason game is a good way to start a September. Beckett Hamilton and Taylor Makar both did it Sunday as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Utah Mammoth 4-1 in their preseason opener at Ball Arena.
Colorado controlled the puck early, outshooting Utah 3-0 in the opening 5:40 and 6-3 through the first period without cashing in.
Hamilton broke the ice at 8:54 of the second. Martin Necas knocked down a Maveric Lamoureux clearing attempt out of midair and fed him at the right post. Utah answered at 15:27 when Yegor Borikov scored from the doorstep.
The third period belonged to the Avalanche. Gavin Brindley finished a two-on-one at 1:52 off a Nazem Kadri feed, and when Utah's offside challenge failed, the visitors took a minor penalty for it. Thirty-five seconds later, Brock Nelson one-timed an Artturi Lehkonen setup from the high slot on the power play.
Makar made it 4-1 at 17:27, taking a Brindley chip out of the neutral zone and scoring on a partial breakaway. Devon Toews and T.J. Hughes also had assists.
Mackenzie Blackwood was perfect on seven shots. Ilya Nabokov, making his own preseason NHL debut, followed with 16 saves.
Colorado's preseason continues Monday on the road against the Winnipeg Jets, with the puck set to drop at 6 p.m. MT.
