NEWARK, N.J. — The Avalanche opened the second half of its season Saturday night with its 25th victory in its 42nd game, defeating the New Jersey Devils 5-2 at the Prudential Center.
Colorado got a hat trick from winger Mikko Rantanen — the final one on an empty net with eight seconds left — and one goal each from defenseman Ian Cole and winger Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, plus another multiple-point performance from all-star center Nathan MacKinnon (two assists), who is now a point shy of leading the NHL in scoring.