DENVER — Alexander Georgiev made 25 saves for the Colorado Avalanche in a 3-1 win against the Nashville Predators at Ball Arena on Saturday.
Cale Makar had a goal and an assist, and Mikko Rantanen and Alex Newhook each scored for the Avalanche (16-11-2), who are 3-1-1 in their past five games.
“I liked our game tonight. Was real good intensity right away, checking game was pretty good, special teams were good,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “I thought we had a good overall team effort. ‘Georgie’ played a nice game in net too.”
Matt Duchene scored, and Jesus Saros made 27 saves for the Predators (12-13-4), who have lost six straight (0-4-2).
“I thought it was a good effort. I thought it was a hard-fought game,” Nashville coach John Hynes said. “When you break the game down, I think it was pretty even 5-on-5, and then we both had a 5-on-5 goal. They had a power-play goal, and then they had the 6-on- 5 goals. I thought there’s a little stretch in the second period where we took some penalties that weren’t good penalties. They got some momentum on the power play from that.”
Video: NSH@COL: Rantanen goes top shelf for PPG in the 2nd
Rantanen gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 8:38 of the second period on a wrist shot from the left face-off circle. He has six goals in the past five games.
“I think his confidence is really high right now; he’s an elite player,” the Colorado forward Evan Rodrigues said of Rantanen. “He’s got every tool. I think since [Nathan Mackinnon has] gone down [with an injury], he’s really taken it upon himself to kind of lead this team. He wants the puck on his stick. He wants to be the guy that makes the play, whether it’s pass, shot, hit, whatever it may be. I think he’s really taken it upon himself to kind of lead this team.”
Newhook scored with 16 seconds left in the second when he finished a 2-on-1 with Rodrigues to make it 2-0.
“I just tried to jump into the play, figured I could be a trailer, and then shaped into a 2-on-1. Expected to get the pass and picked my spot,” Newhook said. “I just kind of look to see where the openings are. Sometimes I try to get it off as quick as I can, but I tried to settle a bit, look up, and then saw blocker side [open]”
Video: NSH@COL: Newhook scores with 16 seconds left in 2nd
Duchene cut it to 2-1 when he scored on his own rebound at 3:25 of the third period.
“Nino [Niederreiter] made a good play being strong on the puck, and [I] Picked it up, wrapped it and got a nice bounce, was able to put it in. Nothing more than that,” Duchene said. “We battled hard, but at the end of the day, you score one goal in regulation, you’re not going to win.”
Makar scored an empty-net goal with 32 seconds left for the 3-1 final. It was his first goal in 11 games (Nov. 23).
NOTES: Rantanen has 100 points (43 goals, 57 assists) in 80 games since Jan. 1. It’s the second time he’s had 100 points in a calendar year (113 points; 34 goals, 79 assists in 2018). … Makar had a game-high seven shots on goal. … Pavel Francouz served as Georgiev’s backup after the goalie missed the 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday due to an illness. … Avalanche defenseman Brad Hunt had one blocked shot in 11:23 of ice time after being recalled from Colorado of the American Hockey League before the game. … Duchene has three goals in the past 11 games. … Predators forward Mikael Granlund played his 700th NHL game.
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