The Predators added to their lead to start the second period, but Mikko Rantanen quickly responded. The period ended with another Predators goal.
The Avalanche came within one from a goal by Valeri Nichushkin, but the Predators cap off the game with its fourth goal.
THE GOALS
1st Period
13:23 NSH (0-1) - Alexandre Carrier banked the puck off the right-side boards for Filip Forsberg to land a wrist shot and the puck found the back of the net through some traffic.
2nd Period
7:20 NSH (0-2) - PPG Colton Sissons had the puck at the goal line next to Pavel Francouz then passed to Tanner Jeannot in the slot who took a quick shot and hit twine.
9:57 COL (1-2) - PPG Kadri attempted a shot from the left side that was deflected of a Predator. Mikko Rantanen found the rebounded puck and took a quick shot that found the back of the net.
16:48 NSH (1-3) - Filip Forsberg took the puck down the ice for a quick odd man rush and was able to make a shot to get the puck home past Pavel Francouz's blocker.
3rd Period
9:12 COL (2-3) - After a couple rebound attempts, the puck found Samuel Girard at the point who passed over to Mikko Rantanen. Rantanen passed to Valeri Nichushkin in front of the net to get the puck into the net.
12:19 NSH (2-4) - PPG Roman Josi picked up the puck in the middle of the zone and took a quick shot to sneak the puck past Pavel Francouz's glove.
18:52 NSH (2-5) - ENGMattias Ekholm took a hard shot from the opposite side of the ice to bank the puck down and into the empty net.
Final: Predators 5, Avalanche 2
3 STARS
POWER PLAYS
Colorado: 1/4
Nashville: 2/5
GOALTENDING BATTLE
Colorado: Pavel Francouz allowed 4 goals on 34 shots.
Nashville: Juuse Saros allowed 2 goals on 25 shots.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Nathan MacKinnon stretches his point streak to nine games (two goals, 12 assists).
NOTEBOOK
The Colorado Avalanche and the Nashville Predators will meet two more times this season, one game each in Denver and Nashville. Before tonight's contest, Colorado had won the last four games against Nashville, which was the longest win streak in this COL-NSH series. The Avalanche lead the league in goals with 112 and goals per game with 4.31, not including tonight's stats.
On this day in Avalanche history (Dec. 16, 2017), Gabriel Landeskog recorded his 300th career points in a game against Tampa Bay Lightning, in this game he also tallied a career high five points and his second hat trick of the season.
ROSTER REPORT
Devon Toews, J.T. Compher, Andre Burakovsky, Darcy Kuemper and Cale Makar have entered the team's COVID protocol list. Justin Barron and Jordan Gross have been recalled from the American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. Jonas Johansson has been claimed off waivers by the Florida Panthers.
Cal Burke signed a one-year contract.
INJURY UPDATE
Jacob MacDonald is still being evaluated after leaving the game Sunday Dec. 12 against the Florida Panthers, but he is up and alert. Gabriel Landeskog is out for up to two weeks after sustaining a lower-body injury on Friday Dec. 10. Bowen Byram is still up with an upper-body injury, he is considered day-to-day.
UP NEXT
The Colorado Avalanche return to Ball Arena for one game to host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday Dec. 18.
LINE COMBINATIONS
Tonight's starters
Forwards
13 Nichushkin - 29 MacKinnon - 96 Rantanen
Defensemen
6 E. Johnson - 49 Girard
Goaltenders
39 Francouz
