Avalanche lose 5-3 to Flames

CALGARY -- The Calgary Flames kicked off the new season with a 5-3 win over the defending champion Colorado Avalanche at Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday. 

Thure Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri each had an assist in their debut with their respective new club.

Huberdeau was acquired with MacKenzie Weegar in a trade with the Florida Panthers in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk on July 22. Kadri, who won the Stanley Cup with Colorado last season, signed a seven-year, $49 million contract ($7 million AAV) with Calgary on Aug. 18.

"We're going to try to contribute as much as possible," Kadri said. "I don't know if that's going to result on the scoreboard every single time, but we find different ways to contribute and, you know, we play as a team, and that's the most important thing."

Rasmus Andersson had a goal and an assist, and Weegar contributed with two assists for the Flames, who won their season opener for the first time in 13 seasons, with Jacob Markstrom making 22 saves en route to the triumph. 

"All three are really good players, as we knew," Andersson said. "I think, obviously, it's nice for them to get that, the points, so they don't have to think about it too much."

Nathan MacKinnon scored his first goal of the season and added an assist, while Pavel Francouz made 22 saves in his season debut for the Avalanche, who defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Wednesday.

Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist, and Pavel Francouz made 22 saves for the Avalanche (1-1-0), who defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 on Wednesday.

"I think there's a lot to learn," Colorado defenseman Cale Makar said. "I feel like, obviously, defending champs come into a building like this, completely new team, everybody's excited. We knew it was going to be a challenge. I feel like overall at certain points in the game we rose to the occasion, but we let it get away from us. That's a learning experience for us."

The win was a milestone for Flames head coach Darryl Sutter, whose 700th win behind the bench tied him with Mike Babcock for 10th in NHL history. He is the reigning Jack Adams Award winner as NHL coach of the year.

"It means a lot," Sutter said. "Means I've coached four good teams."

Bowen Byram scored on the Avalanche's first shot to take an early 1-0 lead. However, it was a struggle from that point forward.

Brett Ritchie nodded it up 1-1 at 1:23, and Dillon Dube gave the Flames a 2-1 lead at 2:31 of the second period. And they never looked back from there.