There’s an alternate universe where Mackenzie Blackwood doesn’t stand on his head in the first period Saturday. While the rest of the Colorado Avalanche struggled through a flat opening 20 minutes, their goalie made 13 saves and kept the visiting Detroit Red Wings off the board.

The Avs came out stronger in the second period and made good use of their goalie’s early work. They scored twice on four power plays in the middle frame alone and added two more goals in the third (one more on the PP) on their way to a 4-0 victory over the Red Wings at Ball Arena.

Blackwood covered for them early and was eventually rewarded with his first shutout of the season. He made 14 additional saves over the final 40 minutes to finish with 27.

“It’s nice to be rewarded,” Blackwood said. “I mean, I thought I’ve been kind of stringing some good games together. Obviously, they’re going to score goals in the NHL most nights, but whenever you can come away with zero, it’s a good feeling.”

Colorado’s top guys took over from there. Martin Necas had two goals and two assists, while Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each added a goal and two helpers. All three scored on the power play, which finished 3-for-5 after failing to capitalize on its first two opportunities.

“I think special teams and these little things, they get us going,” Necas said. “You need a little help for the power play, and then you know it brings the momentum on your side.”

This season has featured plenty of hot and cold stretches for Colorado. Some nights, head coach Jared Bednar’s club looks like the same dominant team that won the Presidents’ Trophy last year. Other nights, it looks nothing like it.

But it would be unfair to lump Blackwood into that conversation. He’s been one of the team’s consistent bright spots this season, even after a couple of rough outings early in the year.

Blackwood improved to 9-3-1 on the season, and his save percentage climbed above .900 for the first time all year. He’s now been above that mark in seven of his last nine starts.

Saturday’s first period was another example of why Colorado needs him to keep that pace. His performance ensured the Avalanche didn’t have to chase the game from behind, something that’s become all too common in recent weeks.

“The first goal is so important in this league,” Bednar said. “I mean, check the stats on any team. It’s not just us, it’s every team that seems to have a really good record when they score first.”

Against the Red Wings, Blackwood turned aside 13 high-danger opportunities, seven of which came in the first period. Detroit had plenty of opportunities to take control before Colorado found its footing.

“We didn’t have a horrible first period, but like, we didn’t generate a ton,” Blackwood said. “And then as the game went on, second period was great, and third. So yeah, I thought we did a great job responding tonight.”

How It Happened

The second period was loaded with special teams, and the Avalanche won that battle. That hasn’t always been the case this season, but it was Saturday.

Colorado drew its first power play just 51 seconds into the period but didn’t do much with it. The next opportunity was a different story. William Wallinder went to the box at the 4:21 mark, and the Avs, despite not scoring, arguably had their best power play of the night. Bednar reiterated that after the game.

The top unit stormed the Red Wings and generated shots from everywhere. At one point, goalie Daniil Tarasov made a save and nearly kicked the puck into his own net because he didn’t know where it was.

They didn’t find the back of the net on that opportunity. But the next three power plays resulted in goals.

The Red Wings got a power play at 6:37, but Logan O’Connor’s aggressive work on the penalty kill drew a penalty to result in a four-on-four. On the ensuing shortened Avalanche power play, Necas scored from the crease after T.J. Hughes caught Tarasov by surprise with a shot that left the goalie down and out of position.

The Avs added to their lead at 12:30 with a vintage MacKinnon one-timer from the left circle. MacKinnon hasn’t had many of those lately, but that one beat Tarasov clean for his 10th goal of the season.

Necas recorded his second of the night midway through the third period, batting a rebound of a MacKinnon shot out of the air at even strength. Makar then capped the scoring on Colorado’s final power play, carrying the puck from the point toward the top of the circle before unloading a wrist shot past Tarasov. Makar’s goal came just 21 seconds into the man advantage.

Good: Top Guys Lead the Charge

Entering Saturday, MacKinnon and Necas had not yet scored in November. Both got on the board last weekend against the Calgary Flames. But since then, MacKinnon had been relatively quiet, with three assists in three games, while Necas recorded a single helper against the Predators after two pointless performances.

Both broke out Saturday, and Makar joined them with a spectacular performance of his own.

It wasn’t just the points. The way all three moved and controlled the game stood out. MacKinnon, Makar and Necas combined for all four Avalanche goals and added six assists.

Bad: Flat Start

It felt, at least early, like it was going to be another one of those lethargic Avalanche games we’ve seen too often in recent weeks.

Colorado struggled to generate much of anything in the opening period, and Detroit had the better of the play. The Avs were fortunate to escape the first 20 minutes without having to overcome a deficit.

Credit to them for rewarding their goalie for keeping them in it and finding a way out of that early rut. But the start was concerning, particularly given how often this team has put itself in a hole lately.