Avalanche Defeat Utah 4-1, Lehkonen Nets Hat Trick

Artturi Lehkonen scored his first career hat trick, and Nathan MacKinnon contributed three assists as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Utah Hockey Club 4-1 in Salt Lake City. Mackenzie Blackwood, who recently signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension, made 34 saves, marking his fourth win in five starts since joining the team. Mikko Rantanen also scored for Colorado, extending his point streak to ten games. Utah's Nick Schmaltz scored the only goal for his team, which has now gone winless in three games. The game featured a notable fight between MacKinnon and Utah's Barrett Hayton, escalating the competitive atmosphere. Colorado's victory continues their strong form, having won four consecutive games and eight of their last ten outings.