NHL Game Summary - NY Islanders at Colorado

Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Semyon Varlamov stopped all 40 shots he faced to record his first shutout of the season, and Nathan MacKinnon added a pair of second-period goals as Colorado posted a 5-0 victory over the Islanders at Pepsi Center.

Erik Johnson, Marc-Andre Cliche and Cody McLeod also provided offense for the Avalanche, who closed out the season's first month by snapping a two-game slide.

"Tonight was a huge win. And our goaltender was an MVP tonight," MacKinnon said.

Chad Johnson was on the hook for all five goals on 23 shots for the Islanders, who have lost four of six.

"We started really well tonight, we dominated play early," Islanders head coach Jack Capuano said. "We have to start scoring three or four goals to win in this league."

McLeod opened the scoring 2:34 after the opening faceoff, cutting to the front of the crease and tapping home a Matt Duchene centering feed.

Colorado effectively put the game away with a three-goal second-period burst.

MacKinnon doubled the home advantage with a power-play strike just shy of the 3 1/2-minute mark of the second, Cliche deposited his first goal of the season one second shy of nine minutes played, then MacKinnon added another on a redirection of a Jarome Iginla pass 1:15 later.

Johnson's point drive with 6:20 remaining in the contest provided a five-goal margin for the Avalanche. The blistering shot was set up by a right-circle faceoff win by Duchene.