Justus Annunen leads Avalanche to fourth straight win with 5-1 rout of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Justus Annunen had 25 saves, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Utah Hockey Club 5-1 on Thursday night for their fourth straight win.

Ross Colton opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the season. Cale Makar also scored in the first. Casey Mittelstadt and Ivan Ivan struck both scored in the second period — Ivan's goal on a power play. Joel Kiviranta had an unassisted goal late to cap the scoring.

Colton struck midway through the first period, snapping the puck past Vejmelka on a power play. Makar then blasted home a second long-distance snap shot, extending Colorado’s lead.

Mittelstadt sent in a close-range wrist shot for a three-goal advantage. Ivan’s power-play goal put Colorado up 4-0 heading into the third.

Mittelstadt, Nikolai Kovalenko and Mikko Rantanen each had a pair of assists for the Avalanche.

Karel Vejmelka made 21 saves in his second start for Utah, who has allowed nine goals over two games. Lawson Crouse had Utah’s lone goal with 4:32 left in the game.

Avalanche: Stifling defense and potent offense helped Colorado turn in a complete game on both ends of the ice.

Utah: Another sluggish start put Utah in an early hole, and it never climbed out. Utah has not scored a first-period goal in three straight games but has surrendered six over that stretch.

Mittelstadt and Ivan were barely challenged while scoring three minutes apart in the second. Their goals squashed any comeback hopes Utah harbored.

Makar leads the NHL with 15 points and 12 assists and has tallied at least one goal or assist in each of Colorado’s first eight games.

Colorado begins a three-game homestand against Ottawa on Sunday while Utah visits the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday.

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Colorado Avalanche forward Logan O'Connor (25) goes for possession of the puck against Utah Hockey Club forwards Kailer Yamamoto (56) and Kevin Stenlund (82) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Utah Hockey Club forward Josh Doan (91) shoots the puck against Colorado Avalanche defensemen Calvin de Haan (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Colorado Avalanche forward Parker Kelly (17) fights for the puck against Utah Hockey Club forward Kevin Stenlund (82) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta, center, reacts to his first goal along with center Matt Stienburg, left, and defenseman Sam Malinski, right, against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Avalanche won 3-2. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen shoots on goal but is blocked against the Seattle Kraken during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Avalanche won 3-2. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Justus Annunen blocks the puck shot by Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers (10) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Seattle. The Avalanche won 3-2. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

SEATTLE (AP) — A 15-year-old boy accused of killing his parents and three of his siblings this week east of Seattle tried to pin the slayings on his younger brother, but a sister who survived after playing dead escaped to a neighbor's house and told police who really carried out the shootings, authorities said in a court document made public Thursday.

The boy was charged Thursday in juvenile court with five counts of aggravated murder. Under Washington state law, a hearing is required before the case can be moved into adult court.

The 11-year-old sister who survived Monday's shooting told investigators that the defendant had recently gotten into trouble for failing tests at school, and that the handgun he used belonged to their father. Of all the children, she said, he was the only one who knew the code to the lock box their dad kept it in.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victims as Sarah Humiston, 42, Mark Humiston, 43, and their children Katheryn Humiston, 7, Joshua Humiston, 9, and Benjamin Humiston, 13.

According to an affidavit of probable cause by King County sheriff's detective Aaron Thompson, the defendant called 911 around 5 a.m. Monday to report that his 13-year-old brother had shot and killed their family at their home in Fall City because he had gotten in trouble for looking at pornography.

A neighbor a few minutes later called 911 saying the injured 11-year-old had come to the home reporting that her family had been shot by her 15-year-old brother and that she had played dead before escaping, the affidavit said.

Arriving deputies detained the 15-year-old in the driveway and found the bodies inside. The 11-year-old was treated at a hospital in Seattle and has since been released, a hospital spokesperson said.

The 15-year-old waived his right to appear in court on Tuesday, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. His defense attorneys said in court that he has no criminal history. His attorneys didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the charges Thursday.

The teen is scheduled to appear in court on Friday afternoon.

Mark Humiston worked as an electrical engineer with Hargis Engineers in Seattle.

“We are blindsided and saddened by the tragic events that have led to the loss of a respected colleague, mentor, and friend, as well as the loss of immediate family members," the company said in statement Thursday. "Mark’s leadership and vision were integral within our firm, and he will be greatly missed.”

FILE - Eight-year-old Vaughan Leveen, left, hands a candle to a King County Sheriff Deputy Amy Crawford before a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting a day before, in Fall City, Wash, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. (Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times via AP, File)

FILE- Bouquets of flowers line a stone picnic table at a roadside park as a small memorial to the victims of a mass shooting the day before in Fall City, Wash., Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. (Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times via AP, File)

FILE - Pastor Carrie Bland, hand at left, uses her candle to light others during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting a day before in Fall City, Wash., Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024. (Jennifer Buchanan/The Seattle Times via AP, File)

King County Superior Court Judge Joe Campagna, top left, speaks during a preliminary hearing for a suspect in the shooting deaths of five people at a home in Fall City, at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Seattle. (Nick Wagner/The Seattle Times via AP, File)

FILE - Neighbors leave the scene of a fatal shooting Monday morning, Oct. 21, 2024, in Fall City, Wash. (Kevin Clark/The Seattle Times via AP, File)

FILE -Police arrive on the scene of a shooting in Fall City, Washington, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (Kevin Clark/The Seattle Times via AP, File)