Nathan MacKinnon scored a go-ahead goal early in the third period, Ross Colton also had a goal, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Utah Mammoth 2-1 in their home opener in Denver on Thursday night.

Scott Wedgewood turned away 32 shots for Colorado.

Dylan Guenther scored and Karel Vejmelka made 25 saves for Utah in its season opener.

The Avalanche struggled on their first two man-advantage chances but finally found some rhythm on their third early in the final period. Cale Makar carried the puck into the Utah zone, then executed a give-and-go with Martin Necas before feeding MacKinnon at the top of the left circle.

MacKinnon stickhandled to the dot and wristed a shot that beat Vejmelka to the far top corner at 2:52.

It was MacKinnon's first goal of the season and third point in the fi

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