DETROIT — Gabriel Landeskog opened the scoring 1:12 in and capped it with an empty-netter for his 25th goal of the season, helping the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Tyson Jost, Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin also scored and Pavel Francouz stopped 31 shots. Colorado beat Detroit for the eighth consecutive time.
Filip Zadina and Robby Fabbri scored for the Red Wings. Thomas Greiss made 26 saves.
Darren Helm, facing his former team in Detroit for the first time, had an assist on Landeskog's opening goal. Helm played 744 regular-season games with the Red Wings.
Jost scored later in the first period with a backhander off another rebound.
Zadina scored midway through to second to cut Colorado’s lead to 2-1. He fired in a rebound after Francouz stopped Moritz Seider's shot.
Kadri scored his 22nd goal with 1:41 remaining in the period. He knocked in the puck from close range despite his stick breaking apart.
Nichushkin put a backhander past Greiss early in the third period for a 4-1 advantage. Fabbri scored on a power play midway through the period.
Landeskog added the empty-netter in final minute.
GAME NOTES
Red Wings C Dylan Larkin reached 200th career assists during the second period. … Colorado D Cale Makar’s first-period assist extended his points streak to six games, tying his career high. … Detroit C Carter Rowney made his first appearance since Jan. 4 after recovering from a lower-body injury. … The Avs are 29-0-3 when scoring first, 23-0-0 when leading after one period and 28-1-2 when leading after two periods. … Colorado won the first matchup, 7-3 on Dec. 10.
UP NEXT
Avalanche: Host Winnipeg on Friday night.
Red Wings: Host Toronto on Saturday night.
>>Video above: From goalie to president: Ryan Bach continues moving up ranks with Colorado Eagles
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