In Denver,Nazem Kadri andNathan MacKinnon struck for two goals each as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the visiting Detroit Red Wings, 6-3 on Saturday.
“That was much needed (successful homestand),” Kadri said. “We struggled a little bit at home a few weeks ago, and that mentally wears on you, it takes a toll on you, but we were able to figure it out. We know if we play the way we can, we’re going to give 
ourselves opportunities every single night. That’s our main focus.”
Pavel Francouz made 22 saves to get the win.
“Kadri played to his strengths,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Power-play goal he comes cruising through the slot, he’s the screen, he gets the tip, he scores. He scores on the back side in the third.”
Dylan Larkin (three points) and Tyler Bertuzzi *two points) each had a goal in the loss.
“There’s a lot of players in here that are still trying to prove themselves, and we should be proving ourselves every day,” Larkin said. “We deserve better, but we have to stay in it and work for each other.”
Matt Nieto and Ryan Graves added single markers for the Avs.
“I think we just played the right way,” Graves said. “I think we stuck to it. There was a little bit of sloppiness at points in the game, but we’ve been playing some good hockey as of late and we just believed in our group that we were going to come through and beat these guys in the end.”
Givani Smith also scored for the Wings.
[WATCH: All Red Wings vs. Avalanche highlights]
Jimmy Howard made 40 saves in the loss; Howard is 0-13-2 in his last 15 games.
“We wouldn’t have been in the game if he hadn’t played as well as he played, so he was excellent,” Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said of Howard. “He’s been really good the last three games. He looks like he’s on top of his game.”
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