Stamkos scores in overtime as Predators beat Avalanche 3-2 for third straight win

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal at 2:18 of overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Thursday.

The goal came on a Nashville power play after Colorado defenseman Devon Toews was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for hooking Stamkos at 1:42 of the extra frame, shortly after Toews hit the left post. Stamkos one-timed a pass from Roman Josi through a screen from the top of the left face-off circle to beat Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.

The overtime winner moved Stamkos into 247 career power-play goals. The NHL.com recap notes that the total passed Phil Esposito and tied Luc Robitaille for fifth place on the league’s all-time list.

Nashville also got goals from Vitali Pinchuk, who recorded his first NHL goal, and Ross Colton. Ryan O’Reilly added two assists, and Justus Annunen made 30 saves for the Predators (7-4-5), who have now won three consecutive games and four of their past six (4-1-1).

For Colorado, Jaden Schwartz and Parker Kelly scored. The Avalanche dropped to 9-6-2, having lost two straight and three of their past six (3-2-1). Blackwood made 22 saves in the setback.

Colton opened the scoring for Nashville 1-0 at 4:01 of the first period after he found the puck at the top of the crease during a goal-mouth scramble. The recap says he backhanded it past Blackwood’s left pad after making contact with the rebound chance, with Blackwood making two saves on the sequence before Colton’s shot went in.

Schwartz tied the game 1-1 at 9:11 of the first period. The play described by the league recap began with Martin Necas’ cross-ice pass from the right circle, and Schwartz snapped it to even the score.

Pinchuk put the Predators ahead 2-1 at 14:34, roofing a backhand shot from the bottom of the right circle over Blackwood’s left shoulder. The goal restored Nashville’s lead after Colorado had answered earlier in the frame.

Kelly evened the contest at 2-2 at 5:08 of the second period with a snap shot from the left circle. According to the recap, Kelly skated in on a 2-on-1 rush with Fedor Svechkov, froze defenseman Jayden Struble, and then buried the puck blocker-side.

The Avalanche could not find a go-ahead goal after the tie, and the game advanced to overtime where Stamkos delivered the decisive power-play strike for Nashville at 2:18.

With the win, Nashville’s third consecutive victory came against an opponent that entered the game with recent struggles, having lost two straight prior to Thursday’s matchup, while the Predators continued a strong recent run across their past six games.