Cale Makar scored twice and added an assist as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames 7-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The result gave Colorado a 3-1-0 record to start the season, while Calgary fell to 0-4-0.
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Cale Makar leads Colorado’s offensive surge
Makar helped set up Devon Toews for the opening goal before scoring twice himself as the Avalanche turned a tied game into a commanding victory.
Toews redirected a pass from Makar at 15:54 of the first period to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.
Adam Klapka answered for Calgary at 17:30, sending the teams into the first intermission tied 1-1.
The Avalanche took control early in the second period when Toews scored his second goal of the night at 6:45.
Makar then extended Colorado’s advantage at 9:16 with a wrist shot from above the right face-off dot.
Nathan MacKinnon made it 4-1 at 11:39, capping a stretch in which Colorado scored three times in 4:54.
Makar added his second goal at 5:35 of the third period, firing a slap shot to put the visitors ahead 5-1.
Jaden Schwartz scored less than a minute later, and Colorado appeared to be firmly in control at 6-1.
Flames mount brief comeback
Calgary responded with two goals in the third period but could not turn the momentum into a full comeback, as detailed in the Flames’ official game recap.
Mikael Backlund cut the deficit to four at 7:17 after tipping a pass from Ryan Strome past Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood.
Kevin Bahl scored at 8:28 to make it 6-3, with his shot deflecting into the Colorado net.
Schwartz restored the Avalanche’s four-goal cushion at 9:41 when his shot deflected off Calgary defenceman Jacob Middleton.
The two-goal performance was Makar’s second and third goals of the young season, according to the official game summary.
Colorado gets balanced production
Colorado’s attack was not limited to its top stars.
Toews and Schwartz each scored twice, while MacKinnon added a goal and two assists.
Brett Kulak recorded two assists, and rookie T.J.
Hughes registered his first NHL point with an assist on Schwartz’s first goal.
Wedgewood made 26 saves in his 200th NHL game and earned his first start of the season.
Calgary received an assist from Jonathan Castagna in his NHL debut, but the Flames were unable to contain Colorado’s pressure after the opening period.
The Avalanche finished with 28 shots on goal, compared with 26 for Calgary.
What the result means for both teams
For Colorado, the victory was a strong response after the Avalanche suffered a 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.
The Avalanche have now scored seven goals in a game and six goals in another during the early portion of the 2026-27 campaign.
For Calgary, the loss extended a difficult opening stretch under a new season schedule that has yet to produce a victory.
The Flames stayed within one goal through the opening period, but Colorado’s second-period surge created a gap Calgary could not close.
The game also offered a notable homecoming moment for Makar, who grew up in Calgary before becoming one of the NHL’s leading defencemen with Colorado.
What comes next for the Avalanche
Colorado is scheduled to return home Saturday to face the Toronto Maple Leafs at 5 p.m. MDT.
The Avalanche will look to build on its 3-1-0 start, while Makar and the club’s top scoring group continue a productive opening week.
Calgary’s next result will be important as the Flames try to avoid allowing an 0-4 start to define the opening weeks of their season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche?
The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Calgary Flames 7-3 at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
How many points did Cale Makar record?
Cale Makar recorded three points, scoring twice and adding one assist.
Who else scored twice for Colorado?
Devon Toews and Jaden Schwartz also scored twice for the Avalanche.
What are the teams’ records after the game?
Colorado improved to 3-1-0, while Calgary fell to 0-4-0.
When do the Avalanche play next?
Colorado is scheduled to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday at 5 p.m. MDT.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against the official NHL game summary and official Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames recaps. ([nhl.com](https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/game-recap-10-08-26?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Game details and upcoming schedules are subject to official NHL updates.