Brock Nelson's hat trick carries Avalanche past Maple Leafs

Brock Nelson scored two of his three goals in the first period Sunday afternoon and the visiting Colorado Avalanche went on to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1.

It marked the fifth hat trick of Nelson's career and his first for Colorado. Jack Drury also scored for the Avalanche, who had lost their two previous games. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 32 shots.

Max Domi scored for the Maple Leafs, who have lost the first four games of a five-game homestand. Joseph Woll made 33 saves.

Nelson opened the scoring on a 2-on-1 rush with Nathan MacKinnon following Toronto's neutral-zone turnover. Cale Makar tapped the puck to Nelson, who lugged the puck into the Toronto zone and shot from the right circle at 6:19 of the first period.

Nelson scored again at 7:31 when he banked a sharp-angled shot off Woll from the left of the goal following Artturi Lehkonen's behind-the-net pass.

After being outshot 17-6 in the first period, Toronto showed more energy in the second. Woll was still busy, however, and he made two superb saves on MacKinnon at 15:05 on a dangerous 2-on-1 rush.

Drury scored on a low wrist shot to the glove side at 18:53 of the second after accepting Parker Kelly's backhand pass. The Avalanche were able to work the puck up the ice from their own end with little resistance.

Colorado did not let up in the third period and came close to adding to the lead when Martin Necas hit the post with a shot in the first minute.

The Maple Leafs went on the power play at 8:03 but were held to one shot on goal.

Toronto exerted some pressure after the failed power play and Scott Laughton's tip-in attempt hit a goal post at 10:37.

Blackwood made a good save on Matias Maccelli about two minutes later.

Toronto removed Woll for an extra attacker with five minutes to play in the third and Blackwood held firm. Meanwhile, Toronto's Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews blocked shot attempts at the open net.

Nelson found the empty net for this third goal of the game at 17:41 of the third.

Domi ended Blackwood's attempt for his third shutout of the season with a power-play goal at 18:58.