Avalanche 6, Predators 5: Matt Duchene matched a career high by scoring in his fourth straight contest and recorded his second consecutive three-point game as Colorado defeated visiting Nashville for the first time in 10 meetings.
Aaron Palushaj also had a goal and two assists and Semyon Varlamov turned aside 33 shots to capture his second win in nine starts. Paul Stastny and Jamie McGinn scored 13 seconds apart, defenseman Tyson Barrie netted his first career NHL goal and Chuck Kobasew also tallied as the Avalanche snapped a three-game home losing skid.
Colin Wilson, Sergei Kostitsyn and defensemen Jonathon Blum and Shea Weber collected a goal and an assist apiece. Weber tallied for the second time in as many games with 1:18 left in the third period to trim the deficit to 6-5 for the Predators, who suffered their first loss to Colorado since a 2-1 setback on Jan. 22, 2010.
Duchene gave the Avalanche a 3-1 lead at 3:18 of the second period after taking advantage of a missed offside call before skating in on a breakaway. Fisher answered midway through the session, but Kobasew responded 50 seconds later to regain the two-goal edge.
Wilson again trimmed the deficit after scoring on a breakaway with 6:43 left in the second, but Stastny cleaned up a rebound before McGinn chased Chris Mason just 13 seconds later.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Mason stopped just 12 of 18 shots before giving way to Pekka Rinne, who finished with 10 saves. ... Duchene had an assist on Barrie's goal midway through the first period to extend his point streak to eight games versus Nashville. ... Wilson had an assist on Kostitsyn's goal to extend his point streak to four contests.
Nashville | Colorado | |
Jonathon Blum 2 | Points | Matt Duchene 3 |
Jonathon Blum 1 | Goals | Matt Duchene 1 |
Jonathon Blum 1 | Assists | Matt Duchene 2 |
Sergei Kostitsyn 1 | Power Play Goals | Tyson Barrie 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Pekka Rinne 1.000 | Save Percentage | Semyon Varlamov .868 |
Chris Mason 12 | Saves | Semyon Varlamov 33 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Nashville | 38 | 5 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 4 | 29 |
Colorado | 28 | 6 | 1-2 | 4-5 | 10 | 39 |