Mackenzie Blackwood made 37 saves in his first game with Colorado, helping the Avalanche win 5-2 against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night in Denver.
Blackwood, who was traded from the San Jose Sharks on Monday, came close to earning his second shutout of the season. Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and had an assist, while Artturi Lehkonen also scored twice. Ross Colton added a goal, and Mikko Rantanen recorded three assists for Colorado.
Steven Stamkos and Luke Evangelista scored for Nashville, and Juuse Saros made 28 saves. The Predators lost their ninth game in 10 tries.
Stamkos and Filip Forsberg had early chances to score against Blackwood, but he made quick saves to set the tone. In the second period, Stamkos had a breakaway that Blackwood stopped.
Nashville was without defenseman Roman Josi, who missed his second straight game due to a lower-body injury. Despite that, the Predators held Colorado off until the middle of the second period.
Casey Mittelstadt fought for the puck behind the Nashville net and passed it to Colton, who scored a one-timer at 11:32 to put Colorado up 1-0. It was Colton’s 10th goal of the season.
Cale Makar almost made it 2-0 soon after, but Saros made a save on his shot. MacKinnon then scored a close-range shot at 18:52 to give Colorado a 2-0 lead.
In the third period, Blackwood stopped a shot from the point to keep Nashville scoreless. Lehkonen then scored a slapshot at 3:30 to make it 3-0.
Stamkos scored for Nashville at 13:03, and Evangelista added another goal at 15:05 on a delayed penalty. MacKinnon and Lehkonen both scored empty-net goals to complete the win. For MacKinnon, it was his 13th goal, and Lehkonen now has 10.
