SALT LAKE CITY — The Colorado Avalanche didn’t have superstar Nathan MacKinnon on Wednesday night, but they did have Parker Kelly and a bunch of other Olympians. Kelly created a highlight-reel goal, while Brock Nelson and Martin Necas scored in their first game back from the 2026 Winter Olympics to help the Avs defeat the Utah Mammoth, 4-2, at Delta Center. Scott Wedgewood made 30 saves, including 13 in the third period, to collect the win. Colorado improved to a league-best 38-9-9. “We’ve got lots of depth,” Kelly said. “Obviously we missed (MacKinnon). He’s a big part of our team, but we have a lot of guys who can step up and play important minutes.” MacKinnon did not play because of “maintenance,” per a team spokesman. Avs coach Jared Bednar said MacKinnon should be available to play Thursday night at Ball Arena against the Minnesota Wild. After a scoreless first period, there was an offensive explosion in the middle frame. Kelly collected the puck in his own end and then skated through four Utah defenders before wiring a shot past Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka at 3:26 of the period. That will be one of the Colorado goals of the season, and it extended Kelly’s career-best total to 13. “He’s done that a couple times this year, so now we expect it out of him, I guess,” Avs defenseman Cale Makar said. “He’s playing really well this season. It’s awesome to see him scoring as much as he has. He’s a very valuable player for us.” Kelly helped set up the second goal less than six minutes later. He used his body to keep the puck in the offensive zone near the blue line before sending it to Sam Malinski. The Avs defenseman set up Victor Olofsson in the right circle for his 11th of the season at 9:13. That is Olofsson’s first goal away from Ball Arena this year. This was also his first game since the birth of his daughter, Viola, on Feb. 10 during the Olympic break. Dylan Guenther scored the first of his two goals in the period with a one-timer on the power play to help Utah cut the lead in half at 10:49. Nelson, fresh off helping the United States win gold in men’s hockey for the first time in 46 years, answered for the Avs with his 30th of the season at 12:20 of the period. Related Articles Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon will miss first game after Winter Olympics Avalanche’s Brock Nelson speaks about winning gold medal, criticism of his United States teammates Keeler: Avalanche’s Brock Nelson put family, Stanley Cup before Donald Trump? Good for him. Avalanche’s Brock Nelson skips Team USA White House visit after winning gold medal Avalanche trade Samuel Girard, second-round pick to Penguins for Brett Kulak Nelson, filling in for MacKinnon on the top line, one-timed a pass in the high slot from captain Gabriel Landeskog. This was Landeskog’s first game with the Avs since Jan. 4. He did play five games for Sweden in Milan. Guenther answered right back 60 seconds later with a snap shot from between the hash marks. That capped a frenetic stretch of four goals in 4:07 between the two clubs. These two teams ranked 31st and 32nd in the NHL on the power play at the Olympic break, but both clubs scored with the extra man in this one. Colorado’s came on its first opportunity. Necas, who was Czechia’s best player in Milan, stayed hot. Makar teed him up for a one-timer in the left circle and he blasted it past Vejmelka at 17:17 of the second to put the Avs back in front by two goals. It was his 23rd goal of the season. “Yeah, I loved it,” Makar said of the work on the power play. “I thought we had some good opportunities. I think we’ve just got to continue to build that. … I really liked the patience we showed with the puck, in zone especially.” This was the first game with the Avalanche for defenseman Brett Kulak. Colorado traded Samuel Girard and a second-round pick in 2028 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday morning for Kulak. Kulak played 19:03, including a team-high 18:21 at even strength. “He was good,” Bednar said. “I just think, suppressing scoring chances, he did a nice job. … For the most part, he looked pretty comfortable in our structure, moved the puck pretty well.” Want more Avalanche news? Sign up for the Avalanche Insider to get all our NHL analysis. ...read more read less