New year, same Colorado Avalanche.

Down 3-1 entering the third period, the Avalanche scored four consecutive goals to walk out of Carolina with a 5-3 victory. Colorado hasn’t had to come from behind often this season, but when it has had to, it’s shown that it’s capable.

Here are five takeaways from Colorado’s 31st win of the season.

1. The power play was a nightmare through two periods, going 0-for-3 and giving up a shorthanded goal. Moving Martin Necas back to the top unit in the third period gave the Avs a bit of a spark, as Brock Nelson scored two power-play goals to kickstart the comeback. Nelson’s second goal was a thing of beauty, easily the prettiest power-play goal the Avalanche have scored all season.
2. Colorado avoided a major disaster in the third period. Devon Toews was tripped on a dangerous play by Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers, and the Avalanche defenseman went into the boards hard, leaving the game for about 10 minutes. He returned late, causing everyone on the Avalanche bench to breathe a sigh of relief. Ehlers is not a dirty player, and after Toews returned, the Danish forward went to the Avalanche defenseman and apologized.
3. Mackenzie Blackwood is not on the trip, and Jared Bednar revealed before Saturday’s game that they don’t believe the lower-body injury the goaltender is dealing with is that serious. They’re hopeful he’ll be good to go when the Avalanche return home next week.
4. Anyone watching Gabriel Landeskog’s second-period goal might have thought they had time-traveled briefly back to 2019. It was a vintage power move by Landeskog to outmuscle his man behind the net and wrap the puck into the net.
5. Colorado’s third line has looked better since Jack Drury moved up and Ross Colton moved back to the wing. Drury’s third-period goal tied the score, and it was a pass from Colton that set it up. Although he didn’t end up on the scoresheet, this was Victor Olofsson’s best game in weeks.

Avalanche 5, Hurricanes 3

What happened: The power play woke up in the third period, and the Avalanche quieted one of the best teams in the East.

What went right: Nathan MacKinnon was frustrated for 40 minutes by the Hurricanes, breaking his stick after a poor power play in the second period. They couldn’t contain him in the third, as he played a role in three of Colorado’s four goals in the final period. He finished with four points and regained the NHL scoring lead with 74.

What went wrong: It’s one thing for the power play to be inconsistent in scoring, but giving up short-handed goals makes things worse. Sebastian Aho’s shorty in the second was the fifth the Avalanche have given up this season, tied for the second most in the NHL.

Avalanche goal scorers: Landeskog (7), Nelson (17, 18), Drury (7), MacKinnon (35)

Hurricanes goal scorers: Aho (17), Ehlers (10), Svechnikov (12)

Between the pipes: Scott Wedgewood finished with 25 saves for yet another win.

What’s next: No rest for the Avalanche, who fly to Florida to take on the Panthers on Sunday at 3 p.m.