The Ottawa Senators were humiliated 7-0 by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
Only twice in Avalanche/Nordiques history have shutouts been won by larger margins. It happened in January 2021 against St. Louis and in March 1985 against Minnesota. Both were 8-0 wins.
The Avalanche had lost seven of their last eight games and had just lost to the Chicago Blackhawks, the NHL’s worst team.
Alex Newhook and Artturi Lehkonen had two goals and an assist apiece in the win for the Avalanche, which had been defeated in seven of their last eight outings.
Mikko Rantanen also hit the target twice.
Brad Hunt got the other net. Nathan MacKinnon and Logan O’Connor each had two assists.
On his second goal, Lehkonen scored a power play goal to make it 5-0 when Nathan MacKinnon gave him a backhand pass from the blue line which he caught while skating backwards between the hoops before return to speed to beat the goalkeeper with the backhand.
Goalkeeper Pavel Francouz blocked all 29 shots against him to sign the shutout. It was his first shutout of the season and fourth of his NHL career.
Anton Forsberg allowed all seven goals for the Avalanche in his worst start of an NHL career. He made 26 saves in the loss.
Senators defenseman Artem Zub injured his lower body in the second period and didn’t return.
