VALERI NICHUSHKIN

Jack Hughes scored on a power play early in the third period and Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves for his first shutout with New Jersey in the Devils’ 1-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.

Petr Mrazek finished with 30 saves against an Avalanche team that won the title last season by dethroning Tampa Bay in six games. Colorado moved defending Stanley Cup champions to 60-26-16 in openers. The appetizer: A highlight video of Colorado's run to the franchise's third Stanley Cup title. "Because they played our song, they won the Stanley Cup," Hoppus cracked before the game. No Stanley Cup."

Artturi Lehkonen and Valeri Nichushkin each scored two power-play goals, Mikko Rantanen had four assists and the fast-skating Colorado Avalanche began their Stanley Cup title defense with a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

Nathan MacKinnon expects to sign contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche soon.

Gritty forward Nazem Kadri has signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Calgary Flames.

The Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche have brought back defenseman Josh Manson with a four-year deal worth $18 million.

Johnny Hockey is testing the free agent market, following Evgeni Malkin 's lead. MVP candidate Johnny Gaudreau informed the Calgary Flames he's leaving in free agency Wednesday, joining an NHL free agent class that features the most high-end talent available in several years. “It is my strong belief that this was a family decision, and I respect that fully,” disappointed Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Tuesday night.

Malkin has topped 20 goals 13 times, and immediately becomes one of the more high-profile players set to hit the market on Wednesday. Penguins GM Ron Hextall said last week he was not as close to a deal with Malkin as Letang. He had 11 goals and 22 points in 67 regular-season games for the Avalanche, and had no points in 14 playoff games. The Chicago Blackhawks’ purge of talent continued with the rebuilding team set to part ways with four more regulars. The Blue Jackets did extend qualifying offers to four players, including star forward Patrik Laine (26 goals, 36 assists last season).

Evander Kane has been granted permission by the Edmonton Oilers to meet with other teams, while the two sides are still in discussion to reach a contract agreement before he’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, July 13. Kane has challenged the Sharks' decision by filing a grievance through the NHL Players' Association. Kane topped 20 goals for the eighth time in 13 NHL seasons by scoring 22 goals and 39 points in 43 games with Edmonton. Oilers GM Ken Holland last week said he was having daily conversations in a bid to re-sign Kane. He had 11 goals and 22 points in 67 regular-season games for the Avalanche, and had no points in 14 playoff games.

One Russian Stanley Cup winner is staying put.

Avalanche Parade Hockey Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin lifts the Stanley Cup during a rally outside the City/County Building for the NHL hockey champions after a parade through the streets of downtown Denver, Thursday, June 30, 2022. “Too early to tell.”He's also right that it's too early to tell exactly what NHL free agency will look like when it begins Wednesday. “We’ve got some time,” Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said about discussions with several pending free agents. Some teams can't afford to wait until Wednesday to make moves because they need to clear salary cap space before then. ___Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno___More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Executives around the NHL expect plenty of movement before free agency opens Wednesday.

While Julien BriseBois knows exactly how confident he is about the possibility of re-signing playoff performer Ondrej Palat and veteran defenseman Jan Rutta, he's not saying. "Still working on that," the two-time Stanley Cup-winning general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning said. Colorado, which beat Tampa Bay in the Cup Final, is looking to sign postseason standout Valeri Nichushkin among a group of potential free agents, and others such as Calgary MVP candidate Johnny Gaudreau, Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin and Florida trade deadline pickup Claude Giroux could all get new deals to stay rather than hitting the open market.

The parade through the streets of Denver to celebrate the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup title offered a little bit of everything.

The city will celebrate the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup title with a parade through the streets of downtown Denver.

The Colorado Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup after dethroning the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Tampa Bay Lightning spoiled Colorado’s party and they are still in the hunt for a third straight Stanley Cup title after beating the Avalanche 3-2 in Game 5.

The fast-flying Colorado Avalanche have zoomed out to a 2-0 series lead over Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final.

Stanley Cup Lightning Avalanche Hockey Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final, Saturday, June 18, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/John Locher) (John Locher)DENVER — (AP) — Looking like by far the better team against the defending champions, the Colorado Avalanche overwhelmed the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Avalanche go to Tampa for Game 3 on Monday night up in the series despite no goals in the series from MacKinnon. Tampa Bay fell to 18-2 after a loss since the start of the first round in 2020. Colorado is inflicting plenty of pain on Tampa Bay, which resorted to some rough stuff after falling behind.

The Colorado Avalanche overwhelmed the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-0 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Avalanche Oilers Hockey Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher came out of the penalty box to give Colorado the lead with 7:18 left and the Avalanche beat the Edmonton Oilers' 4-2 on Saturday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals. Valeri Nichushkin scored twice for Colorado, Mikko Rantanen had an empty-netter with 30 seconds left, and Pavel Francouz made 27 saves. Game 4 is Monday night in Edmonton, with Colorado a game away from advancing to the Stanley Cup final. Only four NHL teams have ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series.

David Perron scored twice, Jordan Binnington made 30 saves and the St. Louis Blues beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-1 to tie their second-round series at a game apiece.

Josh Manson scored 8:02 into overtime, Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves in his return to the net from an eye injury, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in Game 1 of their second-round series.

The Avalanche now are in the Western Conference semifinals for a fourth straight season and second consecutive after sweeping their first-round opponent. Andre Burakovsky had a goal and two assists, Cale Makar added a goal and an assist, and Devon Toews added a goal for Colorado. Yakov Trenin scored twice for Nashville, which was swept for the first time in franchise history in its 15th playoff appearance. Filip Forsberg scored his first of the series giving Nashville its first lead this series at 3:58 of the third. Colorado scored three times over the final 11:05 to wrap up a series by outscoring Nashville 21-9.

Valeri Nichushkin scored the game-winning goal with 7:58 left, and the Colorado Avalanche became the first team to advance to the second round Monday night by finishing a sweep of the Nashville Predators 5-3 Monday night.

Gabriel Landeskog scored twice in the second period, and the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 7-3 for a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.

Cale Makar scored 8:31 into overtime, Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves on his 32nd birthday and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

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Nathan MacKinnon had three goals and two assists, Nicolas Aube-Kubel scored twice in a dominant first period and the Colorado Avalanche set a franchise record with their 53rd win by routing the Los Angeles Kings 9-3.

Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and the Colorado Avalanche clinched a playoff spot with a 6-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguin.

Avalanche Flames Hockey Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) celebrates his goal as Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom picks himself up during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 29, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP) (Jeff McIntosh)CALGARY, Alberta — (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin scored twice and Darcy Keumper stopped 44 shots as the Colorado Avalanche edged the Calgary Flames 2-1 Tuesday night in a matchup of Western Conference division leaders. With the score tied 1-1, Colorado capitalized on a tripping penalty to Elias Lindholm halfway through the third period. Calgary entered the game 4 for 12 with a man advantage in the previous four games. NOTES: Sean Monahan returned to the lineup for Calgary after being a healthy scratch the last two games.

Erik Johnson had a goal and an assist, and the Colorado Avalanche beat Philadelphia 7-5 to hand the Flyers their ninth straight loss just hours after they fired coach Alain Vigneault.

Alex Pietrangelo scored his first goal of the postseason to break a tie and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 in Game 6 to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals.

Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog each scored twice as the well-rested Colorado Avalanche made quick work of Vegas with their speed, beating the Golden Knights 7-1 in a skirmish-filled Game 1 of their second-round playoff series.

Philipp Grubauer made 18 saves and Gabriel Landeskog scored the go-ahead goal in the second period to lift Colorado to a series sweep of the St. Louis Blues with a 5-2 win in Game 4 of the West Division series.