NHL roundup: MacKinnon has goal and 3 assists as Avalanche beat Lightning 6-3

Nathan MacKinnon contributed with a goal and three assists, while Nazem Kadri netted his first goal of the season as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 on Friday night. Devon Toews, Fedor Svechkov, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas also found the back of the net for the Avalanche, who bounced back from two consecutive road losses.

Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves for the Avalanche, who now sit at 2-0-1 in their last three games. Jake Guentzel scored twice for the Lightning, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Nikita Kucherov fell short of becoming the franchise’s all-time points leader, tallying 1,137 points tied with Steven Stamkos. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 18 of 23 shots, including one that deflected off MacKinnon's stick.

Guentzel's second goal of the game came with just 42.7 seconds left in the second period, extending Colorado's lead to 4-2. The Avalanche failed to challenge the play for a missed stoppage, allowing the Lightning to attempt a power play, but they could not capitalize. The game featured the league’s longest-tenured coaches in Jon Cooper and Jared Bednar, with Cooper leading the Lightning and Bednar guiding the Avalanche.

Chicago (AP) — Jake Evans scored twice and assisted on Kaiden Guhle’s goal as the Montreal Canadiens edged out the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. Evans' third point, a feed to Guhle with 1:34 left in the second period, marked his career-high tally. The Canadiens are currently 4-1-1 in their last six games, while the Blackhawks have dropped two straight and four of their last six.

A highly competitive game tightened up late in the first period, to the benefit of Montreal. Chicago opened the scoring via Connor Bedard's second goal of the season 4:23 into the game, but Montreal quickly took control and limited Chicago's chances. Jacob Fowler made 20 saves throughout the game, with only three needed in the final period.

Evans' first and season-opening goal tied the score with 2:31 left in the first period, followed by his second, a wrist shot over Spencer Knight's stick side while the Canadiens were shorthanded, putting Montreal ahead 2-1 7:51 into the second period. Guhle added another goal with a left-point shot screened by Josh Anderson. Mike Matheson sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 2:38 remaining.