Avalanche's new second line sparks 6-3 victory over Maple Leafs
Colorado's revamped second line, featuring Nazem Kadri, Gabriel Landeskog and Nicolas Roy, combined for two goals as the Avalanche defeated Toronto 6-3 on Tuesday.
Colorado rallied to a 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, evening a 6-3 loss to Toronto from the previous month. The victory highlighted the impact of the Avalanche's new second line, which pairs Nazem Kadri with captain Gabriel Landeskog and former Leaf Nicolas Roy.
Kadri opened the scoring for the line early in the first period, receiving a pass from Cale Makar and setting up a backhanded goal by Landeskog. The trio later combined again in the third period when Kadri delivered a precise pass to Landeskog for his second goal of the night, a play the captain described as "beautiful."
"Three big bodies that should be able to hang onto the puck, earn our cycle and get to the net," Landeskog said of the line's role. Head coach Jared Bednar added that the group is helping define the team's identity, noting their competitiveness, puck-keeping ability and willingness to work in the lower offensive zone.
The win marked Colorado's second consecutive victory and their fifth in the last seven games, reinforcing the team's early-season momentum. Bednar praised the leadership of veteran players, including Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, as a key factor in the team's performance.