DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews scored 22 seconds apart in a five-goal first period, sending the Colorado Avalanche to a 7-2 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
The five goals tied the team playoff record for a period and chased Nashville’s backup goaltender David Rittich from the game with 4:56 remaining in the first.
Rittich stepped in for 38-game winner Juuse Saros, who’s sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Andrew Cogliano, Cale Makar and Artturi Lehkonen also scored in the first.
Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog built the lead to 6-0 when he was credited for a goal in the second period. MacKinnon added another in the third.
Matt Duchene scored twice for Nashville.
Game 2 is Thursday in Denver with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop.
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