DENVER (AP) — Joel Kiviranta scored three goals, including twice into an empty net, Nathan MacKinnon notched his third straight two-assist game and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Sunday night.

Valeri Nichushkin and Cale Makar also added goals to propel Colorado to a third straight win. In addition to MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Makar had two assists as the Avalanche swept the three-game season series with the Kraken. Kiviranta wrapped up the win with a pair of late empty-net scores. It was his first regular-season hat trick.

Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 17 shots, improving to 3-1 since the Avalanche traded for him in a deal that sent Alexandar Georgiev to San Jose.

The Kraken looked lethargic in the first period a day after a 6-2 loss at Vegas. But they found energy throughout the game, grabbing a momentary lead in the second period before goals from Nichushkin and Kiviranta.

Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko had goals for the Seattle, which has dropped five in a row. Joey Daccord made 24 saves.

Takeaways

Kraken: Kakko scored his first goal in his third game with Seattle after being acquired on Dec. 18 in a deal with the New York Rangers.

Avalanche: Colorado weathered the only penalty they committed. They've now killed 14 consecutive penalties.

Key moment

Nichushkin scored 11 seconds after Kakko's goal gave Seattle a 2-1 lead in the second period. Only two other times this season have both teams combined for faster goals, according to NHL Stats.

Key stats

Makar, Rantanen and MacKinnon combined on the same goal for the 10th time this season. It’s the most among all trios in the league.

Up next

Following the holiday break, Colorado is at Utah on Friday, while Seattle plays in Vancouver on Saturday.

Jokic overcomes slow start for triple-double in the Nuggets' 132-129 OT win over the Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Nikola Jokic overcame a slow scoring start for his ninth triple-double of the season, finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the Denver Nuggets' 132-129 overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

Jokic turned it on after failing to score in the first 21 minutes. Jamal Murray added 27 points, scoring Denver’s final five in overtime, and Russell Westbrook had 21.

The Pelicans led 107-98 with 7:50 left in regulation, but Jokic scored seven points in a 15-2 Denver run over a 3:41 span to give the Nuggets a 113-109 lead.

CJ McCollum put New Orleans up 119-117 with a 3-pointer with 52 seconds remaining, and Murray tied it with 8.8 seconds left. McCollum shot an airball on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Jokic scored the first six points of overtime and assisted on an Aaron Gordon layup to put Denver up 129-125.

Jordan Hawkins led New Orleans with 25 points. McCollum had 24.

Takeaways

Nuggets: Coach Mike Malone has stressed intensity to his team, which has been playing inconsistently in the last two weeks. “We’ve had a Club Med vacation schedule the last two weeks … and now we start five games in five nights,” Malone said. “We’ll see what our team is made of.”

Pelicans: New Orleans, losers of 16 of 7 games, had a season-high 37 assists — 15 by Dejounte Murray.

Key moment

Jamal Murray missed a layup but got his own rebound and followed up inside for a 129-125 lead.

Key stat

Jokic scored his first points in two free throws 2:51 before halftime and finished the half with six points, five rebounds and six assists.

Up next

The Nuggets host Phoenix on Monday night. The Pelicans host Houston on Thursday night.