DENVER — Would it truly be a Marty Party without fast-paced, techno-infused music thundering in the background as the scoreboard lights up within the first 30 seconds?

It’s fair to say that Martin Nečas isn’t one for slow tempo—at least not on the ice. In hockey terms, he thrives on striking early, dictating the pace, and setting the tone before his opponents have a chance to settle. After all, who walks into a nightclub expecting to hear Billie Eilish? (Though she has bangers, of course.) Colorado Avalanche fans prefer their hockey high-octane: relentless offensive pressure, swift transitions, and scoring at will. Last night was no exception for o'l Busta Nečas, who wasted no time and scored 52 seconds into Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. Cale Makar sprung him on a breakaway, and Nečas beat Alex Lyon with a precise wrister, giving the Avalanche an immediate 1-0 lead. Colorado went on to defeat the Sabres 6-3, handing Buffalo their fifth consecutive loss while extending the Avalanche’s winning streak to five games.

However, this Avalanche squad has occasionally erupted out of the gate in the early stages of a period, only to allow opponents back into contests. The Hockey News asked Nečas how he navigates the tension between these blistering starts and the occasional lapse in intensity later in games.

NO TIRES, JUST GAS

"I don't think we can let off the gas (early in the game)," Nečas said. "Even if you don't start well, you (can) still give your best, and (can) waste energy. So, might as well make it count. Whenever you're up in the first period, it's always good."

The 26-year-old, who secured an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Avalanche on October 30, also made a compelling case for the value of fast starts, noting that an early surge not only sets the tone but forces the opposition to expend energy just to recover.

“I think it’s nice when the other team has to chase. We just keep playing our game. We’ve been playing good defensively. So [many] shots, that you get chances offensively, so that definitely helps.”

The 26-year-old, who secured an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Avalanche on October 30, also made a compelling case for the value of fast starts, noting that an early surge not only sets the tone but forces the opposition to expend energy just to recover.

“I think it’s nice when the other team has to chase. We just keep playing our game. We’ve been playing good defensively. So [many] shots, that you get chances offensively, so that definitely helps.”

History On The Horizon?

Nečas is off to the hottest start of his nine-year NHL career. He spent parts of eight seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes before being traded, along with Jack Drury—a 2025 second-round pick—and a 2026 fourth-round pick, to the Avalanche in a three-team deal involving the Chicago Blackhawks. In return, the Hurricanes received Mikko Rantanen and Taylor Hall, while the Blackhawks regained their 2025 third-round pick from Carolina as compensation for retaining 50 percent of Rantanen’s remaining contract. Nečas’s best season with the Canes came in 2022-23, when he recorded 28 goals and 43 assists for 71 points. Last year, combining time with Carolina and Colorado, he posted a career-high 83 points, scoring 27 goals with 56 assists. But since Jared Bednar encouraged him to shoot more, Nečas has truly become the life of the party.

As it stands, Nečas is on pace for a 109-point campaign, split evenly between 55 goals and 55 assists. Remarkably, the Avalanche are positioned to have three players reach the 100-point mark this season—a feat never before achieved in franchise history. While two 100-point scorers have been recorded on multiple occasions, three would represent an unprecedented offensive milestone for Colorado.

Given the way this Avalanche squad has stormed out of the gate, it seems this celebration could carry on unabated for the entirety of the season.

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