Nathan MacKinnon remains a Martian.

And with that reaffirmation, Avs fans streamed out of Ball Arena on Thursday knowing that with one of the best forwards in the world wearing a burgundy and blue sweater, Colorado could go as far this season as No. 29 will take them.

The Avs beat Utah, 2-1, in Colorado’s 2025-26 home opener and the first game the visitors used their Mammoth moniker. MacKinnon had the game-winning power-play goal early in the third period, while Scott Wedgewood played outstanding in net, stopping 32 shots while prompting “Wedge-y” chants throughout the game.

“We really needed that (from MacKinnon),” Avs center Ross Colton said. “The power play was struggling a little bit there, so anytime we can get momentum with that it’s huge. It (permanently) shifted the game in our

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