Martin Necas leads Colorado Avalanche to 4-2 win over Vegas Golden Knights on Halloween 2025

The Colorado Avalanche secured a convincing 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Halloween night, extending their winning streak to two games. Martin Necas, fresh off signing a lucrative eight-year, $92 million extension just one day earlier, delivered a statement performance with a goal and two assists. The win improved Colorado’s record to 7-1-4, while Vegas dropped to 6-2-3, losing three of their last four games in a concerning trend for the defending Pacific Division contenders.

The Avalanche wasted no time establishing their dominance, with Necas opening the scoring just 41 seconds into the first period. Colorado’s aggressive start and disciplined play throughout the game demonstrated why they remain one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference. Despite Vegas mounting several comeback attempts, including converting on a 4-on-3 power play opportunity, the Avalanche’s balanced attack and stellar goaltending from Scott Wedgewood proved too much for the home side to overcome.

Martin Necas delivers in Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 game recap 2025

Martin Necas couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate his newly signed contract. The 26-year-old forward set the tone immediately, converting a beautiful cross-ice feed from Cale Makar into a one-timer goal less than a minute into the contest. The play was quintessential Avalanche hockey—quick transition, precise passing, and clinical finishing. Necas’ ability to find open ice and capitalize on Makar’s elite playmaking showcased exactly why Colorado committed significant term and dollars to keep him in the fold.

“He was feeling it tonight,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said after the game, praising his forward’s energy and execution. Necas didn’t just contribute offensively; he was engaged in all three zones, showing the complete game that Colorado envisioned when they made him a cornerstone of their future. His three-point performance marked his eighth goal of the season and continued his impressive start to the 2025-26 campaign.

The early goal rattled Vegas, who had prepared specifically for Colorado’s opening plays. Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy expressed frustration postgame, noting that the team had reviewed that exact play just minutes before puck drop. “The coach has to prepare his team to play, right? But as players, you have to start on time,” Cassidy said, highlighting a recurring issue that has plagued Vegas throughout their recent slump.

Necas’ performance wasn’t just about the numbers—it was about timing and impact. Every time Vegas threatened to build momentum, Necas seemed to be involved in plays that stifled their progress. His chemistry with Makar was particularly evident, as the two connected multiple times throughout the night. The contract extension, which carries significant weight both financially and symbolically for the franchise, looks increasingly justified with each performance like this one.

Defensive stalwarts shine in Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 game recap 2025

Cale Makar continued his torrid stretch of hockey, registering a goal and an assist to extend his season-opening road point streak to seven games. With four goals and seven assists during this stretch, Makar has recorded the second-longest road point streak by a defenseman in franchise history, trailing only Quebec Nordiques legend Jeff Brown. The Norris Trophy winner has been nothing short of exceptional, driving play from the back end while providing crucial offense when Colorado needs it most.

Brent Burns also made his mark in a memorable fashion, scoring his first goal as a member of the Avalanche. The veteran defenseman, who signed a one-year deal with Colorado in July, fired a trailing wrist shot past Carl Lindbom at 10:11 of the third period to restore Colorado’s two-goal cushion. The goal held additional historical significance—Burns recorded his 916th career point, moving past the legendary Bobby Orr into 11th place among defensemen in NHL history. It was also his 43rd career game-winning goal, tying Paul Coffey for fifth all-time among defensemen.

The goal came after some good-natured ribbing between Burns and Necas. “It’s funny how it worked out because in the first period [Necas and I] had a similar play, and I didn’t jump in,” Burns explained. “He let me know about it, so it was good. I said, ‘You know, big dummy needs to learn the lesson.’ So, it was a great play by him, and it’s nice to see.” The veteran’s self-deprecating humor and willingness to learn from younger teammates speaks to the culture that Colorado has cultivated.

Scott Wedgewood provided steady goaltending throughout the contest, making 21 saves to earn his latest victory. While not facing an overwhelming shot volume, Wedgewood made several key saves during Vegas’ power play opportunities and kept the Golden Knights at bay during their third-period push. His positioning and rebound control limited second-chance opportunities, though he’ll want to improve on the Mitch Marner goal that deflected off Burns into the net—a play that briefly made the game interesting down the stretch.

Vegas struggles continue in Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 game recap 2025

The Golden Knights’ recent struggles have become a cause for concern in the desert. After a strong start to the season, Vegas has dropped three of their last four games, with recurring issues plaguing their play. The most glaring problem has been their inability to generate consistent offense, particularly on the power play without captain Mark Stone, who remains on injured reserve with an apparent wrist injury. Vegas went just 1-for-6 with the man advantage against Colorado, and their power play statistics without Stone are alarming—just 2-for-19 compared to 9-for-24 with him in the lineup.

Tomas Hertl provided one of the few bright spots for Vegas, cutting Colorado’s lead to 2-1 with a skillful individual effort during a 4-on-3 power play in the third period. The veteran center displayed patience and composure, cutting across the crease before sliding the puck underneath Wedgewood’s right pad. “We know they’ve been aggressive, like a lot of teams, and I try to take it to the net,” Hertl said. “Sometimes, we have to keep it simple, get the pucks, shoot. When we get rebounds and stuff, it eventually opens up.”

Mitch Marner also found the scoresheet, scoring Vegas’ second third-period goal to make it 3-2. However, the goal came with just over eight minutes remaining, and the Golden Knights couldn’t generate the necessary offensive pressure to find the equalizer. Colorado’s penalty kill, which has been exceptional this season at 28-for-30, frustrated Vegas throughout the evening. Coach Cassidy even burned his timeout early in the third period to try to capitalize on a 5-on-3 opportunity, but the Golden Knights could only manage a 4-on-4 goal shortly afterward.

Defensive breakdowns also cost Vegas dearly. Brock Nelson’s second-period breakaway goal came after a miscommunication between Ben Hutton and William Karlsson, leaving the Avalanche forward alone against rookie goaltender Carl Lindbom. “[Karlsson] was pulling out when I was sliding it over, and then I was trying to back check,” Hutton admitted. “It was a tough play by me. Obviously, looking back, it’s easy to say I should have done it. Got to own that one.” These types of self-inflicted wounds have been characteristic of Vegas’ recent play, and they’ll need to clean up their game quickly as the schedule doesn’t get any easier.

Key takeaways from Colorado Avalanche vs Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 game recap 2025

This victory represented more than just two points for the Avalanche—it was a statement win against a divisional rival. Coming off a four-game losing streak, Colorado has now won consecutive games and appears to be finding its rhythm at the right time. The team’s depth scoring has been crucial, with contributions coming from throughout the lineup. Following their impressive eight-goal outburst against New Jersey, the Avalanche continue to demonstrate their offensive firepower while tightening up defensively.

The performance of Colorado’s penalty kill cannot be overstated. Facing six power play opportunities against a team desperate for offensive production, the Avalanche allowed just one goal on a 4-on-3 situation. Their aggressive approach forces opposing power plays out of their structure, and teams across the league are struggling to solve Colorado’s penalty killing tactics. This will be a critical advantage as the season progresses and games become tighter.

For Vegas, the absence of Mark Stone looms larger with each passing game. While the team has talented players throughout their lineup, Stone’s two-way excellence and offensive creation are proving nearly impossible to replace. The Golden Knights need to find solutions quickly, whether through internal adjustments or external acquisitions, if they want to maintain their position among the Pacific Division’s elite. The Halloween showdown that many anticipated being a closely contested affair turned into a showcase of Colorado’s depth and Vegas’ vulnerabilities.

The Avalanche will look to build on this momentum as they travel to San Jose for their next contest. With Makar playing at an elite level, Necas delivering after his contract extension, and role players like Burns providing veteran leadership and timely scoring, Colorado appears poised for sustained success. Jared Bednar’s squad is demonstrating the resilience and championship pedigree that has defined their recent seasons.

As for the Golden Knights, they return home to host Detroit on Tuesday, giving them a few days to regroup and address their systemic issues. Bruce Cassidy’s team has the talent to turn things around, but they’ll need better starts, improved special teams execution, and cleaner defensive zone play. The 4-2 final score may suggest a competitive game, but Colorado controlled large stretches of this contest, dictating play and capitalizing on Vegas’ mistakes. The path forward for the Golden Knights requires addressing these fundamental issues before their current slump becomes a more serious concern in the competitive Pacific Division race.