Sherwood scores 1st NHL hat trick, Canucks defeat Avalanche

Demko made his best saves early in the second period, stopping Cale Makar on a power-play rush and the rebound attempt by Nichushkin just 15 seconds in. He then got a piece of a wrist shot from MacKinnon from the top of the left circle at 3:47.

“[Demko] played well, credit where credit is due, but I think we got to not accept not scoring and try to find a way no matter what,” Blackwood said. “He's a good goalie, been battling through some adversity there, but obviously the game aside I'm happy he can come back and play this year.”

Blackwood was good at the other end, too, in what was only his second start since being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Dec 9.

“It was a fine game," he said. "Nothing tremendous, but there's a lot to build on."

MacKinnon hit the post on a power play at 13:11 of the third period for Colorado, which finished 0-for-4 with the man-advantage and is 1-for-18 in its past seven games.

“A work in progress for us lately,” Bednar said. “It's kind of been the story of our last handful of games. ... They're in a battle right now to make it more consistent, to get to the interior of the ice, to get some good looks. There are some things I like today where they took a step, but just couldn't find the back of the net.”

Sherwood completed the hat trick at 17:25 of the third period to make it 3-0, shooting into an empty net from just inside his own blue line.

“I was just trying to take it in, having the whole arena [chanting is] something you dream of as a kid,” he said. “Those are the kind of moments that you work for and just kind of manifest and visualize, so I'm really thankful and grateful for them.”

Nichushkin ended Demko's shutout bid with 46 seconds remaining, converting a pass from Mikko Rantanen in the slot for the 3-1 final.

NOTES: Rantanen extended his point streak to six games (three goals, nine assists). ... Colorado forward Tye Felhaber had one hit in 4:34 of ice time in his NHL debut after signing a two-year contract on Sunday. ... Sherwood is the 13th player in Canucks history to score a natural hat trick, and the first to do so since Brock Boeser on Dec. 12, 2023. ... Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen missed his second straight game with an illness.