NHL Scores: Avalanche offense has breakout game; Jonathan Drouin shines

The Colorado Avalanche picked up a much-needed win, while the Tampa Bay Lightning seem to have discovered a pretty dynamic duo with Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Drouin.

by Adam Gretz

Oct 25, 2014, 12:00 PM UTC

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Part Of

NHL Friday: The Jonathan Drouin show

see all updates

Having lost seven of their first eight games this season the Colorado Avalanche entered their game on Friday against Vancouver in desperate need of a win. Things did not look promising when they gave up a goal just 10 seconds into the game.

Fortunately for the Avalanche, it was only good news from there as they put together what might have been their best game of the season in a 7-3 romp over the Canucks. Six different players found the back of the net as the Avalanche racked up 48 shots on goal and carried the play against a Vancouver team that was playing the second half of a back-to-back situation. It was clear they were a tired team, and maybe that's just what Colorado needed to get itself out of this early-season funk.

In Winnipeg, Tampa Bay continued its fast start to the season with a 4-2 win over the Jets in a game that saw Jonathan Drouin record his first NHL goal and first career multipoint game.

In Anaheim, the Columbus Blue Jackets dropped a 4-1 decision to the Ducks, but the outcome of the game takes a backseat to the scary incident involving Cam Atkinson and the cut he received after he was accidentally hit in the face by Ryan Kesler 's right skate blade. There was reportedly no damage to his eye as the cut was just below it.

All the NHL Scores

Stars 3, Devils 2 (SO)

Lightning 4, Jets 2

Avalanche 7, Canucks 3

Oilers 6, Hurricanes 3

Ducks 4, Blue Jackets 1

Three Things We Learned

1. The Avalanche are still pretty talented. And it showed in their 7-3 thrashing of Vancouver on Friday with seven goals and 48 shots on goal. Jarome Iginla scored his first two goals as a member of the Avalanche in the blowout win while defenseman Tyson Barrie and forward Matt Duchene also added three points.

2. The Oilers can put together a winning streak, and they already have a chance to do something they didn't do all of last season: Win four games in a row. Edmonton's 6-3 win over Carolina on Friday was their third straight win after losing five in a row to start the season. They look to keep it going on Monday when they host the Montreal Canadiens. Rookie Leon Draisaitl scored the game-winner on what was also his first career NHL goal.

3. Corey Perry is on his way to another huge season. A two-time 40-goal scorer, Perry has put himself in position to reach that mark once again with already nine goals in his first eight games of the season. He not only has more goals than any other player in the league at this point, he has more goals than an entire team (Buffalo -- eight).

Impact Moment

Jonathan Drouin scored his first NHL goal to help lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-2 win in Winnipeg. It's only been four games, but he's doing everything he can to live up to the hype that preceded his debut. He already has three points on the season, including a stellar assist on Steven Stamkos' first period goal on Friday.

Stat of the Night

The New Jersey Devils lost their 18th shootout in a row, a stretch that has seen their shooters go just 6-for-59. That is unbelievably bad and it is almost impossible to believe that an NHL team can go that many shootouts without winning even one.