Predators defeat Avalanche
The official game recap Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche.
The Nashville Predators scored four times in the third period to defeat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 at Pepsi Center on Saturday, their 12th consecutive game without a regulation loss.
The Predators (33-21-12), who began a five-game road trip, are 8-0-4 since a 5-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Feb. 9.
James Neal and Mike Fisher gave the Predators a 3-2 lead before Shea Weber scored into an empty net with 1:38 to play and Miikka Salomaki followed with 54.3 seconds remaining.
Fisher gave Nashville the lead at 10:16 with his ninth goal of the season, beating goalie Calvin Pickard after intercepting Andrew Bodnarchuk's clearing attempt in the slot.
The Avalanche (33-30-4) have lost three of their past four.
The Predators tied the game for the second time on James Neal's goal at 1:02 of the third period that made it 2-2. The play started when Ryan Johansen intercepted Nathan MacKinnon's pass in the Nashville end and skated into the Avalanche end 1-on-1 with defenseman Francois Beauchemin. The puck came loose and Neal swooped in and shot it by Pickard for his 23rd goal.
Gabriel Landeskog scored with 45.8 seconds remaining in the second period to give the Avalanche a 2-1 lead. MacKinnon carried the puck into the Predators end and passed to Landeskog for a one-timer that went over goalie Pekka Rinne's left pad as Mikkel Boedker skated in front.
The goal was the second in the past two games for Landeskog, who has 16 this season. He has three goals and six assists in the past eight games.
The Predators tied the game 1-1 at 15:30 of the second period on a goal by Filip Forsberg. Avalanche defenseman Nick Holden was behind the net when he passed right to Nashville forward Mike Ribeiro, who fed Craig Smith in front. The puck bounced to Forsberg, who put it by Pickard for his 28th goal. Forsberg has seven goals and three assists in the past six games.
Blake Comeau gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 7:27 of the first period. Shawn Matthias was behind the net when he passed to Carl Soderberg along the right-wing boards. Soderberg passed in front to Comeau, who had position on defenseman Anthony Bitetto at the edge of the crease. He spun to his left and put a backhand by Rinne's skate for his first goal in nine games and 10th this season.
Pickard made 15 saves in the period, 10 on two Predators power plays.
-- by Rick Sadowski for NHL.com --
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06/03/2016 - 00:30
