The Predators beat Colorado 3-2 on Thursday, leaning on 25 blocked shots and Justus Annunen’s .939 save percentage to secure a third straight win.
Nashville edged Colorado 3-2 on Thursday night, earning a third straight win in a matchup where the Avalanche had the shot edge. Colorado led 32-25 in shots, but the Predators’ 25 blocked shots against nine for Colorado helped blunt that pressure. Vitali Pinchuk and Ross Colton each scored for Nashville, while Ryan O’Reilly supplied an assist; Parker Kelly and Jaden Schwartz scored for the Avalanche. Annunen stopped 31 of 33 shots for a .939 save percentage, and Blackwood made 22 saves on 24 shots for .917. Neither club scored on the power play, and Nashville’s blocking effort helped it protect the narrow margin. Colorado entered ranked No. 10 in DYMA’s power index, eight places ahead of Nashville at No. 18, but the Predators converted their defensive work into the result. That result followed Nashville’s 6-2 win in the teams’ previous meeting, giving the Predators a 2-0 season-series lead.
Key Performers
Vitali Pinchuk, Nashville: 1 G, 0 A, 1 P; 3 shots, +1, 0 PPG, 0 hits. Ryan O’Reilly, Nashville: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P; 2 shots, +1, 0 PPG, 0 hits. Justus Annunen, Nashville: 31 saves on 33 shots against, .939 save percentage.
Standings Impact
Nashville’s third straight win cuts into Colorado’s two-point pregame standings cushion; the Predators entered with 17 points to the Avalanche’s 19.
DYMA Insight
Colorado’s No. 10 power-index ranking sat eight places above Nashville’s No. 18, but the Predators’ 25 blocks and Annunen’s .939 save percentage made the difference. Nashville has now won both meetings with Colorado this season.