The Colorado Avalanche responded after a disappointing road trip with its best period of the season Friday night and an easy win against the St. Louis Blues.

St. Louis allowed four goals in the first period, including two on Colorado power plays, digging themselves a massive hole as they tried to avoid their fourth straight loss.

Jared Bednar wanted the Avalanche to treat the last five games before the 4 Nations Faceoff like it’s the playoffs. The team got the memo. Colorado stormed out of the gate with four first-period goals on Friday on its way to a 5-0 drubbing of its divisional rival St.

Jonathan Drouin had two goals and an assist, Mackenzie Blackwood had 19 saves, and the Avalanche used a four-goal first period to beat the St. Louis Blues 5-0.