Familiar faces turned foes as the Colorado Avalanche welcomed the Nashville Predators to Ball Arena for the first of four meetings this season. We caught a glimpse of former Avs Ryan O’Reilly, Alex Kerfoot, Jack Drury, Ross Colton, and Justus Annunen.
Oh, and I wouldn’t be surprised if former Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland was in attendance as well. Tonight, the home team erased a one-goal deficit twice only to drop the extra point in overtime after a nasty post and untimely penalty.
The Game
Jack Drury made it clear when the Avalanche played the first time around that the win meant a lot for Ross Colton, saying, “I’m happy for Ross,” after their 6-2 win back on October 25.
Well, Colton would exact even more revenge tonight, getting the scoring going on a play where he didn’t give up on the puck. At 4:01, in the first, Nashville took its first lead of the night, with Ryan O’Reilly getting the assist.
Next, Jaden Schwartz leveled things when Brock Nelson’s forechecking pressure led to a Predators turnover that found Martin Necas’ stick. As Necas left the goal line, he found Schwartz, who was working toward the net. Jaden beat Justus Annunen, and the game was tied 1-1 at 9:11 in the first.
The Predators weren’t done scoring in the first period as Vitali Pinchuk scored his first career NHL goal. He earned the net-front chance after Reid Schaefer stole the puck from Brock Nelson and found him in a dangerous area. The goal came at 14:34 in the first, giving Nashville the 2-1 lead to end the first.
We saw only one goal in the middle frame when Parker Kelly roofed one at 5:08 to tie things at 2-2. Parker Kelly ended up on a break after a great chip play from Logan O’Connor. O’Connor was along the boards and made a heady play to get the puck to the middle of the ice and out of the defensive zone, and Kelly did the rest.
The third period opened up as Nashville and Colorado traded chances, but both Justus Annunen and Mackenzie Blackwood stood tall and came through while their side was down a man. The final frame ended without a goal from either side, and the game went to overtime.
The OT period was all Avalanche until it wasn’t. The home team generated a flurry of chances, including one for Devon Toews, who was all alone after MacKinnon found him streaking toward the net. He beat everything but the post. Soon after, Devon Toews found himself in the penalty box for holding Steven Stamkos.
In the end, Steven Stamkos tied Luc Robitaille for the 5th most power-play goals in NHL history with his game-winner, earning the Predators the extra point and the 3-2 OT victory.
Takeaways
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was very vocal and honest in the days since Colorado’s 7-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and it seems to have struck a chord at least for tonight. The Avalanche spent a lot of time on the penalty kill, and the Predators have been pretty lethal on the power play so far this season.
We saw the Avalanche approach the kill with attention and urgency, even when typical PK guys like Brent Burns were in the box. That’s just one example, but for me, effort was not an issue this evening.
Mackenzie Blackwood had one incredible save in the first period and what could have been a game-saving save midway through the third and final period. For the most part, both goalies were good tonight, and that always makes for an entertaining game.
I’m getting the sense that although many players on these two teams are friendly off the ice, a budding rivalry could be brewing, and with all the familiarity, it could get juicy. All I know is I’m circling the next Avs vs. Preds game on my calendar, coming in January of 2027.
Nathan MacKinnon left the ice visibly frustrated after the OT loss, which makes sense, as the Avalanche had the win on their stick late in the third on a power-play chance, and again a few times in the bonus period. MacKinnon has been held pointless in 5 of Colorado’s 8 losses.
Up Next
The Detroit Red Wings will come to Denver for a 7 o’clock Saturday matchup with their old flame at Ball Arena.
