The Colorado Avalanche face the Vancouver Canucks for the second time this season since their last matchup on Nov. 9, which saw the Avalanche come up on top in a 5-4 win in overtime. This time was much different, as despite the Canucks gaining an early lead, the Avalanche controlled the rest of the game and secured a 3-1 win thanks to a two-goal night from Nathan MacKinnon.
Period 1:
A slow start for the Avalanche, and the Canucks capitalize on it as Arshdeep Bains sends a great pass to Linus Karlsson, who, with a nice forehand-backhand move, can beat Scott Wedgewood to open the scoring at 1-0. Marcus Pettersson is called for high-sticking and sending the Avalanche to their first power play of the night, but they aren't able to convert on the opportunity. The Avalanche slowly start to break out of their slow start, and by the halfway point of the period, the shots are 10-3 in favour of the Avalanche.
MacKinnon cleans up in front 🚮 pic.twitter.com/U2UqMHKZcg
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 3, 2025
Despite the shots favoring the Avalanche, Wedgewood has needed to make some big saves, especially when Brent Burns blows a skate, and Kiefer Sherwood gets a breakaway opportunity, but Wedgewood denies it. With one minute left, Valeri Nichushkin, now back in the lineup, sends a shot on which forces Kevin Lankinen to make a great save on Devon Toews's rebound shot, but not on Nathan MacKinnon as he buries Toews’s rebound to tie the game 1-1 and end the period.
Period 2:
The first half of the second period wasn’t as eventful as the last ten minutes of the first period, but MacKinnon makes up for it as he rocks Sherwood. Though one important moment of the period was the announcement that Mackenzie Blackwood would replace Wedgewood in net, as of the second period, there was no official announcement of any injury, but something to be aware of.
Like a MacK truck 🚛 pic.twitter.com/lMtxzmQIO5
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 3, 2025
Similar to the first period, the Avalanche really turns it up in the second half of the period. It's Gabriel Landeskog who receives the puck from the boards and outmuscles Max Sasson to feed Brock Nelson on a breakaway and beat Lankinen to make it 2-1. Landeskog continues his hot streak as he sets up MacKinnon for a one-timer and blasts it to make it 3-1. He now has 10 points in his last 10 games, all while posting a +11 rating. The Avalanche outshoots the Canucks 12-4 in the period and sends it to the third 3-1.
Period 3:
Early in the third period, it was announced that Wedgewood had suffered an upper-body injury, and we now await further confirmation from Jared Bednar on its severity.
Scott Wedgewood has an upper body injury and will not return to tonight's game.#goavsgo#avs@TheHockeyNews
— Ryan O'Hara (@OHaraSports) December 3, 2025
The Avalanche do a good job this period maintaining their 3-1 lead, but also making sure they don’t lift their foot off the gas. It’s shown when Landeskog makes a great pass to Ross Colton to try and get his third point of the night, but Lankinen makes a good read and stops Colton's shot from going in. The Canucks pull Lankinen with just over three minutes left in the period, but can't convert on the extra man to try and get some life back into the game, and the Avalanche win 3-1.
The Avalanche are back in action on Thursday, December 4, against the New York Islanders.
Nathan Mackinnon Leads 3-Stars of the Month of NovemberThe NHL announced that Nathan MacKinnon is the first star of November for his play during the monthFor action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.