DENVER -- Nathan MacKinnon broke a tie early in the third period for the Colorado Avalanche, who held on for a 2-1 win against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on Thursday.

MacKinnon scored a power-play goal at 2:52 of the third period with a wrist shot from the left circle that went in off the far post.

Ross Colton scored, and Scott Wedgewood made 31 saves for the Avalanche (2-0-0).

Dylan Guenther scored, and Karel Vejmelka made 24 saves for the Mammoth in their season opener.

Colton gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead when he finished a chip pass from Jack Drury into the top right corner past the blocker of a sprawling Vejmelka at 10:57 of the first period. Drury caught a saucer pass from Victor Olofsson at the left dot who then one-touched it over to Colton for the slap shot.

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