INSTANT REACTION: Avs show up and out on 30th anniversary night with a 6-2 win over the reigning Stanley Cup Champions

On a historic night celebrating 30 years of Colorado Avalanche hockey, and the 1995-96 Stanley Cup winning team, the Avs

The Avs won the first period, scoring early with Sam Malinski and late with Brock Nelson. Noah Gregor did get the Panthers on the board seven and a half minutes into the game, but the Avs came out on top heading into the first intermission.

The second period was a heck of a scoring party from the Avs to put up a demanding lead against the reigning cup champions, getting goals from Gavin Brindley, Nathan MacKinnon, and Artturi Lehkonen.

The final frame of this one started a bit hectic. Florida seemed to cut the Avs’ lead by a goal, but it was overturned due to Luostarinen’s kicking motion to score it. The Avs built on that with a goal from Gabe Landeskog to make it 6-1. Mackie Samoskevich does get a clean goal, though, this period, thanks to a beautiful passing sequence that beats Mackenzie Blackwood to make it 6-2.

Nathan MacKinnon, the first NHL player to 25 goals this season

With his goal in the second period of tonight’s game, the fourth of the night from the Avs, Nathan MacKinnon is the first skater of the 2025-26 season to reach 25 goals.

It's what the Dogg does 🐶 pic.twitter.com/gpcja7kN4v

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 12, 2025

As far as the top-five goal scorers in the league go, this is the list:

1. Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado): 25 goals, 28 assists (53 points)
2. Morgan Geekie (Boston): 22 goals, 13 assists (35 points)
3. Jason Robertson (Dallas): 20 goals, 20 assists (40 points)
4. Connor Bedard (Chicago): 19 goals, 23 assists (42 points)
5. Bo Horvat (NY Islanders): 19 goals, 12 assists (31 points)

Welcome back to the lineup, Gavin Brindley

After leaving the game early due to a missed boarding call during the New York Rangers game on November 20th, Gavin Brindley has made his mark on today’s game with a two-point night: a goal and an assist on Lehkonen’s breakaway goal.

Would you believe us if we said Brent Burns just got an assist to someone (Brindley) who wasn't born yet when he was drafted?

Because it's true. pic.twitter.com/eE8aparvI9

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) December 12, 2025

Brindley has been a key addition to this organization since he was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets in return for Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle. He’s impressed everyone since training camp, from Jared Bednar to his teammates. Coach Bednar even went as far as to say Brindley could be a top-six player on a lot of other teams in the league.

With performances like tonight’s, especially considering it’s his first game back in three weeks (exactly), he’s proving to be an impressive staple to this Avalanche roster.

Avs postgame pod