Avalanche become 1st team to hit 100 points with victory over Flames

Valeri Nichushkin scored twice while Darcy Keumper stopped 44 shots as the Colorado Avalanche edged the Calgary Flames 2-1 in a clash between Western Conference division leaders Tuesday night in Calgary.

Nazem Kadri took MacKinnon's spot on the Avs' top line with Nichuskin and Mikko Rantanen.

Tyler Toffoli scored for Calgary (40-18-8), which is 2-2-0 on a six-game homestand that continues Thursday when Los Angeles visits the Saddledome. The Kings are second in the Pacific, seven points behind the Flames.

After going winless in his two previous starts, Kuemper improved to 31-9-3.

Jacob Markstrom (31-13-7) stopped 28 shots.

With the score tied 1-1, Colorado capitalized on a tripping penalty to Elias Lindholm halfway through the third period. Mikko Rantanen spotted Nichushkin in front and sent a perfect pass across the slot that Nichushkin steered behind Markstrom.

WATCH | Nichushkin pots 2 goals:

Colorado's power play has been lethal of late. The unit converted two-of-three chances and is 15-of-36 over the Avalanche's last 12 games (41.7 per cent).

Meanwhile, Calgary's penalty kill struggled for a second straight game. Before then, the Flames had allowed five power-play goals on home ice in 32 games (a total of 86 chances).

But Calgary has now surrendered five power-play goals in its last two games.

Calgary has also been rolling with the extra man of late, entering the night 4-for-12 in the previous four games. But the Flames could only convert one-of-six chances against Colorado, including two opportunities in seven minutes of the third, both on Kadri penalties. The latter came with 16 seconds remaining.

The Avalanche and Flames power plays entered action ranked eighth and fifth, respectively.

The Flames opened the