Predators 5, Avalanche 2
DENVER -- James Neal and Mike Fisher scored in the third period, and the surging Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Saturday.
Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist, and Shea Weber Mikka Salomaki scored empty-netters for Nashville.
Pekka Rinne stopped 34 shots for the Predators.
Nashville (33-21-12) has been one of the hottest teams in the NHL to move securely into the first wild card in the Western Conference. The Predators have not lost in regulation since a 5-3 setback against Washington on Feb. 9 and are 8-0-4 in that span.
Blake Comeau and Gabriel Landeskog had goals and Calvin Pickard had 35 saves for the Avalanche, who are 15-15-4 at home.
Neal tied it 2-2 when he cleaned up center Ryan Johansen's rush to the net. Neal came in after Pickard saved Johansen's shot and knocked it in at 1:02 of the third. It was his 23rd of the season.
Fisher got the winner when he intercepted Avalanche defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk's clearing pass and beat Pickard at 10:16. It was his ninth of the season.
Pickard came off for an extra skater with 2:12 left and Weber scored 34 seconds later to ice it. It was his 17th.
Salomaki added his fifth at 19:05.
The loss left Colorado (33-30-4) two points behind Minnesota for the second wild card in the West. The Wild, who beat Buffalo in a shootout Saturday, have played one less game than the Avalanche.
Comeau gave the Avalanche a 1-0 lead at 7:27 of the first period when he swept a loose puck past Renne as he was falling to the ice. It was his 10th goal of the season.
The Predators outshot the Avalanche 15-9 in the first, with 10 shots coming on the power play. They did not get the equalizer until Forsberg knocked in a loose puck that lay in front of Colorado's net at 15:30 of the second for his 28th of the season.
The Avalanche got the goal back late in the second. Nathan MacKinnon hit Landeskog with a pass in the slot, and his wrister beat Renne at 19:14. It was Landeskog's 17th goal.
NOTES: Avalanche D Eric Gelinas missed his second straight game with a back injury. Gelinas, who was acquired from New Jersey on Monday, played 11 minutes against Minnesota on Tuesday. ... Predators D Barret Jackman was scratched for the third straight game. Jackman has one goal and four assists in 61 games this season. ... Colorado coach Patrick Roy said he has not lost faith in G Semyon Varlamov, who struggled in his last two starts and is now serving as Calvin Pickard's backup. "Varly is our No. 1 goalie and he remains our No. 1 goalie," Roy said. "Unfortunately (for him), Pick's playing well and he's not. But I know Varly will be back." ... Nashville's defensive corps leads the NHL in points.