Avalanche Triumphs in Erik Johnson's Return to Denver

Nichushkin Scores Twice, MacKinnon Reaches Career Milestone, and Malinski Nets First NHL Goal in 5-1 Victory Over Sabres

Erik Johnson, a fan favorite and former Colorado Avalanche player, returned to Denver for the first time since his departure, playing for the Buffalo Sabres in a game that ended in a 5-1 win for the Avalanche.
Johnson, who played for 13 seasons and 717 games with the Avalanche and helped them to the 2022 Stanley Cup title, was honored with a video tribute during the first period of the game.
Valeri Nichushkin scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon reached 800 career points with two assists, and rookie Sam Malinski scored his first NHL goal, contributing to the Avalanche's victory.
Despite the Sabres' loss, they are showing signs of improvement, with a 2-0-1 record in their last three games.
Mikko Rantanen, who recently faced criticism about his work ethic from a Finnish analyst, tied the game 5-5 with his first goal in 10 games.