3 most impressive Colorado Avalanche players from 3-1 win over Florida Panthers feat. Devon Toews 

The Colorado Avalanche welcomed the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers to the Rocky Mountains for the first time this season after having won four of their last five games.

Meanwhile, the Panthers arrived at Ball Arena having won only two of their last five games.

And when it was all said and done, the Avalanche sent the Panthers to their fourth loss in six games. They defeated the defending champs by a final score of 3-1, improving their record to 25-15-1. Meanwhile, the Panthers fell to 24-15-2.

The scoring was started by Carter Verhaeghe, who had emerged as one of the most clutch players for the Panthers in their consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final; it was his 10th of the season.

Neither team found the net again until late in the second period when Devon Toews, who was the overtime hero in Colorado's thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres last week, tied the game with his fourth goal.

Toews scored again for the Avalanche just before the midway point of the third period, giving Colorado the lead for good. Sniper Mikko Rantanen added his 24th goal late in regulation, scoring into the open net with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky lifted for the extra attacker.

Bobrovsky finished with 31 saves on the 33 shots that he faced, while MacKenzie Blackwood stopped 26 of 27 shots.

3 most impressive Colorado Avalanche players from 3-1 win over Florida Panthers

#1. Devon Toews

Toews remained hot, picking up right where he left off with his thrilling OT winner over the Sabres by scoring twice, giving him five goals on the season.

He's on pace to break his previous career-high in goals when he reached 13 tallies in his second year with the Avalanche, which resulted in the Stanley Cup in June of 2022.

#2. MacKenzie Blackwood

Blackwood is going to get the bulk of the starts in goal for the foreseeable future, as the Avalanche lost goaltender Scott Wedgewood to injury during their recent win over the Sabres.

Signed to a new five-year contract, Blackwood denied six chances from 50-goal scorer Sam Reinhart while also shutting down seven shots from Matthew Tkachuk. He allowed just one goal on the 27 total shots he faced.

#3. Nathan MacKinnon

As is his typical fashion, the Avalanche sniper was all over the ice against the Panthers and registered three shots on goal.

In addition to coming in second overall in total ice time among Avalanche forwards, the ever-dangerous MacKinnon also picked up an assist, giving him an astounding 52 already – and the calendar just turned to January a week ago. He's on pace to reach well over 100 helpers this season.

The Avalanche are in action again when they take on the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Wednesday.