What happened: MacKinnon answered Clarke's earlier hit on Makar with a fight in Denver on Oct. 1. He tossed his helmet afterward and scored twice to pace an 8-4 win over the Kings at Ball Arena.
Why it matters: A top center answering for a teammate sets an early tone for Colorado's top line. Pairing the bout with two goals makes it an opening-night tone-setter rather than a routine scrap.
By the numbers: MacKinnon: 2 goals vs Kings Oct. 1. Final: Avalanche 8, Kings 4 in Denver.
What to watch: Colorado continues opening week with Makar's status the early watch.