Nathan MacKinnon had three assists, while his new linemate Martin Necas had two goals and an assist to help the Avalanche shrug off a slow start before rolling past the Flames, 4-2, at Scotiabank Saddledome.

Martin Necas scored twice in a three-point game and Cale Makar collected one goal and one assist to pace the visiting Colorado Avalanche to a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Necas has eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games since being acquired by Colorado with Jack Drury in a three-team trade involving the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks that sent Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall to the Hurricanes.

MacKinnon set up all three of the Avalanche's second-period tallies, scored by Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas (on the power play). This was just the second multi-point effort in the last 10 games for MacKinnon,