INSTANT REACTION: Avs take handling adversity to a new level with an 8-2 win over the Ottawa Senators

Despite the adversity the Avs are dealing with right now, with the absences of Gabriel Landeskog, Devon Toews, and Mackenzie Blackwood, they managed to dominate a sluggish Ottawa Senators team.

The first period was a fun one to watch. Josh Manson dropped the gloves with Tyler Kleven after a hit on recent call-up Ivan Ivan. After serving his five-minute major, Manson netted the Avs’ first goal of the night through distance and traffic.

Later in the first, Nathan MacKinnon found his 36th goal of the night to make it 2-0 to end the period.

The second period was… a busy one.

Cale Makar gets the scoring party started to make it 3-0 early in the period, and that’ll end Leevi Merilainen’s night. Mads Sogaard comes in as relief to finish out the game… not that his night is going much better.

Shane Pinto snaps Scott Wedgewood‘s shutout bid to get the Senators on the board.

Then, the dam broke.

The Avs proceeded to put up five (yes, you read that correctly) goals up on Sogaard.

Martin Necas gets the power play going with a snipe from the left side to make it 4-1.

Brent Burns finds the back of the net off a deflection courtesy of Thomas Chabot.

Brock Nelson then gets the power play going for a second time tonight with a goal on a 5-v-3 opportunity for the Avs.

Josh Manson scores his second of the night, also from some distance, to put himself on hatty watch.

And just to cap it all off, Brock Nelson scores his second of the night, Solovyov securing his second point of the season with the primary assist, to finish the period 8-1.

The third period was just as entertaining in a few different ways. Started things off with another change in net for Ottawa, putting Leevi Merilainen back in net.

Then… all hell broke loose (again).

5’10” Samuel Girard takes down six-foot Tim Stutzle, after trying to strip Claude Giroux of the puck in the neutral zone. Scott Wedgewood gets taken down by Lars Eller later in the period, but when Shane Pinto goes to get involved in the scrum that ensues, Wedgewood gets in on the action and takes a few shots at Pinto.

Just minutes later, Brady Tkachuk takes advantage of a rebound created by Tyler Kleven and snipes it through Wedgewood’s five-hole to get Ottawa their second goal of the night

Two 10-minute misconducts later on Ottawa’s side, that’s where things will end tonight.

Josh Manson’s Gordie Howe hat trick

A fight, then a goal, then an assist. Josh Manson rounded out a Gordie Howe hat trick with a four-point night.

MESS WITH THE BULL SON, YOU’LL GET THE HORNS!

Josh Manson with a big time fight after Ivan Ivan gets hit@ConorMcGahey and @6ErikJohnson on the call #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RtehB7ElCk

— 92.5 FM – Denver's Altitude Sports Radio (@AltitudeSR) January 9, 2026

He set a career high in points in a single game tonight. He also set a career-high in goals in a single game.

All done with his dad in the building.

The power play converted… TWICE!

Turns out Brock Nelson is a power play genius, but he’s not the only one on this team!

Both Martin Necas and Brock Nelson put up goals on the man-advantage, Nelson’s coming via a 5-v-3 opportunity.

What a shot from Necas 🚨 pic.twitter.com/miSzqoYX2P

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 9, 2026

The Avs are missing Landeskog and Toews on the power play, but they seem to be doing fine in his absence.

Nelson’s goal is his 7th of the season on the power play.

Brock Nelson with the one T to make it 6-1! pic.twitter.com/kQ6qWiRYVM

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) January 9, 2026

Avs postgame pod