Roman Josi scored the game-winning goal early in the third period, helping the Nashville Predators defeat the visiting Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Saturday night.
Josi, along with Steven Stamkos and Gustav Nyquist, each contributed a goal and an assist. Filip Forsberg and Colton Sissons also scored, marking Nashville’s fourth win in their last six games (4-1-1). Goaltender Juuse Saros saved 28 of the 30 shots he faced.
For the Avalanche, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar each scored a goal and had an assist, extending their point streaks to 12 games. Justus Annunen made 20 saves in goal.
Forward Nikita Prishchepov, 20, made his NHL debut for Colorado, taking two shots on goal in 13:30 of play. However, the Avalanche lost their third consecutive game (0-3-0).
In the first period, Nashville outshot the Avalanche 11-8, but there were not many dangerous scoring chances. Saros made a key save during this time.
At 14:42 of the period, MacKinnon passed the puck across the ice to Joel Kiviranta for a one-timer from about 11 feet away, but Saros reacted quickly and covered the lower part of the net to keep the game scoreless.
The second period got chaotic early on, as penalties from Stamkos and Forsberg, along with a penalty from Colorado’s Ivan Ivan, created a four-on-three power play for the Avalanche.
Makar took advantage of this and scored his fifth goal of the season just 22 seconds into the power play, putting Colorado ahead 1-0 at 2:54 of the second period.
Nashville got their first power play after John Ludvig was called for tripping. Stamkos scored his second goal of the season at 8:31, tying the game at 1.
The Predators then took the lead at 2-1 when Sissons scored from close range by redirecting a long shot from Marc Del Gaizo at 18:40.
In the third period, Josi scored his first goal of the season at 5:15 with a powerful shot on a power play, making it 3-1.
With Annunen pulled for an extra skater, MacKinnon scored with a backhand shot with 2:17 left, marking his sixth goal of the season. Forsberg then scored into the empty net 1:03 later, and Nyquist added another goal in the final minute.
