Nelson Records Hat Trick as Avalanche Defeat Maple Leafs 4–1.

The Colorado Avalanche continued their dominant NHL season with a 4–1 road victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, powered by a hat trick from Brock Nelson. Nelson scored twice in a span of 1:12 during the first period, giving Colorado early control of the game. He later completed his fifth career hat trick with an empty-net goal. Jack Drury added the Avalanche’s remaining goal, while goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood turned aside 32 shots to secure the win. With the victory, Colorado improved to an NHL-best 35–6–9 record. The Avalanche became just the fourth team in league history to record six or fewer regulation losses through 50 games, joining the 1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers, the 1943–44 Montreal Canadiens, and the 1975–76 Canadiens. The last team to reach at least 77 points at the 50-game mark was the 2022–23 Boston Bruins, who later set an NHL record with 65 wins. Toronto’s lone goal came late on the power play from Max Domi. Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll finished with 33 saves. Toronto fell to 24–19–9 and has now dropped six of its last seven games after opening its current homestand with an 0–3–1 record.

Nelson opened the scoring at 6:19 of the first period on a two-on-one rush before scoring again moments later on a pass from Artturi Lehkonen from behind the net. He now has 27 goals on the season. The performance moved Nelson into a tie with Alex DeBrincat and Kyle Connor for the third-most 25-goal seasons among active American players, trailing only Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews. The Avalanche will continue their road trip Wednesday night in Ottawa, while the Maple Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday.