SALT LAKE CITY — On Friday night, the Colorado Avalanche triumphed over the Utah Hockey Club with a decisive 4-1 victory, thanks to a stellar performance by Artturi Lehkonen, who netted three goals. Mackenzie Blackwood also shone in goal, making 34 saves, contributing to the team’s fourth consecutive win.

Joining Lehkonen on the scoreboard was Mikko Rantanen, while Nathan MacKinnon provided three assists, showcasing the team’s offensive depth. Blackwood, acquired from San Jose on December 9, has secured four wins in five outings since joining the Avalanche and recently signed a five-year, $26.5 million contract extension on Friday.

The Utah Hockey Club managed to score only once during the match, with Nick Schmaltz finding the net. Unfortunately for Utah, this loss marked their eighth defeat in the last nine games at home, with Karel Vejmelka saving 33 shots in a tough matchup.

The game began without any goals in the first period until Lehkonen scored for Colorado at the second period’s 8:08 mark. He received a pass from MacKinnon, which allowed him to tap the puck in easily. Utah responded in the third period, thanks to Schmaltz, who scored during a power play at 3:42 by redirecting Mikhail Sergachev’s powerful shot down the middle.

However, Lehkonen quickly regained the lead for Colorado, finding the back of the net again with just 5:16 left in the game, deftly maneuvering around Vejmelka’s outstretched skate. In the closing minutes, Rantanen and Lehkonen each secured empty-net goals, completing the scoring for the night.

Takeaways from the matchup highlighted Colorado’s persistent offensive pressure that consistently troubled Utah’s defense, keeping them on the defensive for most of the game. On the other hand, Utah struggled to create significant scoring opportunities, especially early on, as they managed a mere seven shots on goal during the second period alone.

A pivotal moment in the game came when Schmaltz’s power play goal looked to give Utah a chance for a comeback, but Lehkonen’s quick response sealed the victory for Colorado. Notably, the Avalanche improved their record to a perfect 16-0 this season when leading at the start of the third period, underlining their strong late-game performance.

Looking ahead, the Avalanche will host the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, while the Utah Hockey Club will travel to Seattle for their next game on Monday.