The Colorado Avalanche avoided being caught off guard by the Nashville Predators for the second time in a week, securing a 4-2 victory at Ball Arena on Saturday. Similar to previous games, the Predators fell behind early when Nathan MacKinnon scored just a minute and a half into the match. In earlier meetings, goals came even faster with Brent Burns scoring 15 seconds into the game on November 22, and Brock Nelson netting one at 1:12 in Tuesday’s contest.
Midway through the first period, Reid Schaefer was penalized for delay of game, and Valeri Nichushkin was sent to the penalty box for interference, resulting in a 4-on-4 situation. Taking advantage, Jack Dury scored with a toe drag, extending the Avalanche’s lead to 2-0. Following this, the Predators enjoyed a brief power play, during which Jonathan Marchessault scored off a pass from Ryan O’Reilly, who now has six points over six games.
Early in the second period, the Predators appeared to have control, but Victor Olofsson shifted the momentum by scoring to keep the Avalanche within two goals. With about three minutes remaining, Nashville pulled goalie Justus Anunen, and Nichushkin added an empty-net goal. Tyson Jost then scored his second goal of the season with just over a minute left, solidifying Colorado’s two-goal lead.
Colorado outshot Nashville 41-29, marking the second occasion the Avalanche have fired 40 or more shots at the Predators’ netminder. Anunen, now with a 1-5-1 record, allowed four goals on 41 shots, making 37 saves. The Predators’ record dropped to 12-15-4, and they are set to face the St. Louis Blues at the Enterprise Center on Sunday at 7 pm CST.
Fan Take: This game highlights Colorado’s growing offensive firepower and solid defensive execution, signaling a strong contender in the league. For hockey fans, the Avalanche’s consistency against teams like Nashville is exciting and hints at an intense playoff race ahead, which could elevate the overall excitement and competitiveness of the sport.
