DENVER (AP) - Sven Andrighetto scored twice, the second an empty-netter with 1:34 remaining, and Alexander Kerfoot had his first NHL goal in helping the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 victory over the Boston Bruins in their home opener Wednesday night.
It was the second meeting between the two teams in three nights. The Avalanche beat the Bruins 4-0 in Boston on Monday night.
Colorado broke things open in the second period, with Nail Yakupov, Andrighetto and Matt Duchene all beating goaltender Tuukka Rask, who was replaced by Anton Khudobin for the third period.
Trailing 4-1 midway through the third, the Bruins made things interesting with goals from Tim Schaller and Torey Krug in a 1:27 span. Andrighetto and Tyson Jost responded with empty-net goals.
Semyon Varlamov stopped 20 shots to help the Avalanche start on the right foot at the Pepsi Center. The team went a dismal 13-26-2 at home a season ago when they finished with an NHL-worst 48 points.
Yakupov has three goals in the two games against the Bruins. A former No. 1 overall pick, Yakupov is trying to resurrect his career in Colorado.
Brad Marchand also scored for Boston in a game that featured two fights.
Jost was banged up when he took a hit from Boston defenseman Adam McQuaid in the second period and slid hard into the boards. Jost crawled toward the bench before being helped by captain Gabriel Landeskog and a trainer. McQuaid was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking.
Moments later, Andrighetto scored to make it 3-1. And when McQuaid stepped out of the box, Colorado defenseman Nikita Zadorov was there waiting to fight. They each landed several punches before being sent to the box.
Jost later returned to the game.
Trailing 1-0 in the first, Marchand took advantage of a Colorado miscue by grabbing the puck, skating in and sending a shot over Varlamov's right shoulder. It was one of just four shots for the Bruins in the opening period.
Kerfoot scored at 8:19 of the opening period when a pass from Tyson Barrie appeared to bank off his leg and bounce over Rask. The 23-year-old Kerfoot signed a two-year deal with Colorado after becoming a college free agent in August. He was a co-captain for Harvard last season.
Duchene set up Kerfoot's goal with a feed out front to Barrie. Duchene now has two goals and three assists this season as he tries to keep his focus on the ice with his name being mentioned in trade talks since last season.
"Same message I've preached all camp and all season so far - I'm just here to be the best I can be for this team," Duchene said after the morning skate.
NOTES: C Patrice Bergeron missed a third straight game with a lower body injury. Bergeron's next one will be his 900th game with the Bruins. ... RW David Backes remains out with diverticulitis. ... Avalanche F Nathan MacKinnon had two assists in the second period.
UP NEXT
Bruins: Play the second contest on a three-game trip in Arizona on Saturday.
Avalanche: Host Anaheim on Friday before traveling to Dallas on Saturday.
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