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MacKinnon ejected, many hurt as Oilers halt Avalanche in 4-3 win: Recap, Reaction and Highlights
Edmonton Oilers Connor Ingram Colorado Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Zach Laing
Mar 11, 2026, 01:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 11, 2026, 01:06 EDT
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Tuesday night’s affair between the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche was a much-anticipated one.
After all, the last time these two teams met, the Avalanche laid a 9-1 drubbing on the Oilers in Edmonton that was salt in the wound for a team that had been as shaky as ever to start the season. And while much time has passed since that Nov. 8 game — some of which came in the form of fresh faces on both sides — it still served as a measuring-stick game for the Oilers.
To be fair, though, it may have been a similar kind of game for the Avalanche, because the game, which saw the Oilers walk out with a 4-3 victory, had all the feel of an early June playoff game, not just any mid-March game.
The feisty affair, which saw Oilers winger Trent Frederic drop Avalanche centre Nic Roy in a first-period scrap, escalated with 35 seconds left in the second period when Nathan MacKinnon rolled a 10-pin strike, bowling over Connor Ingram. It would wind up with Ingram leaking from his forehead like a WWE wrestler who just bladed himself, while a lengthy review would end the Avalanche superstars’ night early, taking a five-minute major penalty in the process.
The Oilers had already built themselves a steady lead at the time. While Ross Colton opened the scoring for the Avalanche 32 seconds into the game, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would score on the power play just over eight minutes into the first frame.
The two teams would trade another pair of goals later in the first period. Martin Necas would score after a rebound popped out to him with just over four minutes left in the period. Jack Roslovic, however, would get one back with 25 seconds left in the first, after Leon Draisaitl found him alone in front of the net, saucing a beautiful backhand no-look pass only he could make.
Four minutes into the second, Nugent-Hopkins would score his second of the game after planting himself in front of the Avalanche net.
That’s what brought the score to 3-2 in favour of Edmonton when they got their power play from MacKinnon’s major, which had been limited to just under four minutes thanks to a Connor Murphy penalty the Oilers were already killing off.
Edmonton wasn’t able to capitalize early in the third period, but they were standing tall with a powerhouse Avalanche team. They would punch back, however, as Valeri Nichushkin would deflect home a Sam Malinski shot-pass from the point, that would go upstairs on Tristan Jarry.
Connor McDavid, already sitting on an assist in the game setting up Nugent-Hopkins’ first of the game, would get in the goal column himself to regain Edmonton’s lead nine minutes into the third. It was a beautiful give-and-go between him and Draisaitl, as McDavid would get right in front of the net to go upstairs on Mackenzie Blackwood, scoring what would be the game-winner.
Edmonton now sits 2-0 on their key four-game road trip this week, having beaten the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Sunday night. The Oilers now head to Dallas to visit the Stars Thursday night, before closing it Friday with a visit to the St. Louis Blues.

News and notes…

  • MacKinnon and Ingram weren’t the only players who would leave the game. Oilers forward Colton Dach left the game in the first period after an awkward hit on Avs defenceman Josh Manson. Defenceman Ty Emberson would leave the game in the first period, too, after laying a pair of hits in the first period and taking one in the same frame.
  • Ingram had the Oilers in a good spot by the time he left the game, but Jarry was nothing short of spectacular. He was forced into an awkward spot without much time left in the second, and had to make a couple of quick saves early on. He would stop 11 of 12 shots for a .917 save percentage on the night.
  • The Oilers’ big guns were on for this game. While Nuge had a pair of goals on a pair of shots, Draisaitl ended the night with two assists and six shots, McDavid had a goal, an assist and five shots, while Evan Bouchard had two assists and four shots. This was the kind of game they needed to step up in, and they did in a big way.
  • For those wondering what led to Frederic’s fight, one has to wonder if it was in part due to Nic Roy cross-checking Frederic in the face during last year’s playoffs.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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