In Detroit, the visiting Colorado Avalanche were ruthless on Saturday afternoon in a 5-1 win over the Red Wings.
Nathan MacKinnon hit for a goal and three points, and Cale Makar added three assists in the win.
“When (MacKinnon) is playing vertical, he can be as dangerous as a bull in a China shop,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “He can work his way through the defense under heavy pressure and still get off those shots.
“It’s pretty cool.”
Alexandar Georgiev made 33 saves in the Colorado win.
“Maybe it is helping us to be together on the road,” Georgiev said after a 4-0-0 road trip. “We’re playing good and finding ways to keep the puck in the offensive zone.”
The Avalanche improved to 40-22-6 off their fifth straight win.
“That’s a very special team because of their high-end players,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “When you see what they are capable of doing when they’ve got a healthy lineup, you know they have a chance to win another Stanley Cup.”
Detroit dropped to 30-29-9.
Pius Suter was the lone striker for Detroit, his first period goal tied the game, 1-1.
Devon Toews had staked the Avs to a 1-0 lead on the first period.
Colorado blew the game open with four goals in the first five minutes of the second period.
In the middle frame, MacKinnon potted his 30th of the campaign for a 2-1 lead, and the rout was one.
Bowen Byram hit off a 4-on-3 power play to push the lead to 3-1 at 17:37.
Lars Eller scored shorthanded at 4:20 of the middle frame for a 4-1 advantage.
“At 3-1, we had a power play in what was still a very winnable game,” Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin said. “But we gave up a shorty and then gave up another goal. 
We’re not good enough to have lapses like that.”
Mikko Rantanen then completed the scoring at 5:16 of the second for the 5-1 final.
Ville Husso got the start and made 16 saves, surrendering two goals before getting the hook in the third period.
“Ville wasn’t sharp, and there wasn’t any reason to leave him out there once it got out of hand,” Lalonde said. “He’ll be back out there on Monday.
Magnus Hellberg made two saves in relief.
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