Brent Burns got the party started just 6:44 into the game after MacKinnon shoveled a pass to him following a broken play at the point. Burns walked the puck in and snapped a shot over Gibson’s glove to give Colorado the early lead.

For the 40-year-old Burns, it marked his 270th career goal, tying him with Bobby Orr for seventh on the all-time list amongst defensemen. 

Shortly after, Josh Manson was sent to the box for holding Andrew Copp, but Colorado’s penalty kill—struggling in recent games—successfully killed the infraction.

MacKinnon then took control of the puck, maneuvered around two defenders, and circled the offensive zone until he found an opening, firing a wrister off the post and in to make it 2-0. Just over 10 minutes into the game, he already had a goal and an assist.

Colorado continued to apply pressure, and with about nine minutes remaining in the period, Parker Kelly ripped a slap shot that hit the post, leaving the Avs just inches away from a 3-0 lead in the opening period. 

With 3:15 left in the period, Kelly was sent to the penalty box after former Av J.T. Compher stepped on his stick and went down, drawing a tripping penalty and giving Detroit their second power play of the game.

Second Period

1:24 into the second period, Brock Nelson, after being knocked to the ice following a hit into the boards, recovered the puck and fed a perfect pass to Colton, who beat Gibson to make it 3-0. After going 20 games without a goal, Colton has now found the back of the net in two consecutive contests.

Just over a minute later, the Avalanche went on the power play after Red Wings defenseman Erik Gustafsson tripped and sent Kelly airborne. Despite several chances, including a MacKinnon setup for Valeri Nichushkin on a backdoor tap-in, the Avs were unable to convert on the man advantage.

Following a neutral-zone turnover, the Avalanche quickly countered, with Artturi Lehkonen setting up Nathan MacKinnon for a one-timer from the left circle. MacKinnon blasted it past Gibson for his NHL-leading 40th goal of the season with 6:27 remaining in the second period.

With 2:47 left in the period, J.T. Compher gave the Avalanche a power play after tripping Kelly. Earlier in the game, Kelly had been penalized for tripping Compher. The Avs nearly broke their power-play curse, but MacKinnon missed a wide-open net that would have given him a hat trick on the night. Detroit quickly countered on a 2-on-1 rush, but Emmitt Finnie hit the post. Moments later, a fight erupted behind the net, with Brock Nelson and Compher both serving matching minors from the skirmish.

Third Period

Blackwood was outstanding all game, but his best save came around the seven-minute mark of the third period, when he robbed Detroit forward James van Riemsdyk with a beautiful glove save. A lucky bounce left the puck on van Riemsdyk's tape, but his shot went straight into Blackwood’s glove.

On the very next play, Colorado put the game out of reach. Kelly jammed one home to make it 5-0. Jack Drury dumped the puck in from the point, and Joel Kiviranta got his stick on it, passing it to Kelly. Kelly attempted to deke past Gibson, but the shot was initially stopped by the pad. Undeterred, Kelly continued to whack at the puck with his backhand until it crossed the goal line.

That was Kelly’s 12th goal of the season, continuing what has been a career-best campaign.