Stamkos OT Winner Lifts Predators Past Avalanche 3-2

Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal at 2:18 of overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night, Nov. 5, at Ball Arena in Denver, NHL.com and the Associated Press reported.

The victory was Nashville’s third straight and moved the Predators to 7-4-5. Colorado fell to 9-6-2 and has lost two straight (0-1-1).

Predators vs. Avalanche: final score

• Goalie saves: Justus Annunen 30 for Nashville; Mackenzie Blackwood 22 for Colorado (NHL.com)
• Power play: Predators 1-for-5; Avalanche 0-for-3 (AP)

How the game unfolded

Ross Colton opened the scoring at 4:01 of the first, backhanding a scramble past Blackwood for a 1-0 Predators lead. Colton, traded from Colorado to Nashville in June, scored against his former club, the AP noted.

Jaden Schwartz tied it 1-1 at 9:11, snapping home a cross-ice feed from Martin Necas after Brock Nelson forced a turnover behind the net.

Vitali Pinchuk then put Nashville back ahead 2-1 at 14:34, roofing a backhand from the right circle for his first NHL goal. NHL.com said Pinchuk became the 13th Belarusian player in league history to score. “Way nicer than a lot of guys’ first NHL goals,” Stamkos said afterward.

Parker Kelly evened it 2-2 at 5:08 of the second on a snap shot from a 2-on-1 with Fedor Svechkov, beating Annunen blocker side.

Regulation ended tied after Nashville killed a late holding penalty on Stamkos. In overtime, Colorado’s Devon Toews hit the left post at 1:42, then took a hooking penalty 20 seconds later after Stamkos drew the call. Stamkos one-timed a Roman Josi feed short side from the left circle for the winner — his 247th career power-play goal, tying Luc Robitaille for fifth all-time and passing Phil Esposito, NHL.com reported.

What it means

Nashville coach Andrew Brunette praised the Predators for attacking a Colorado team coming off a 7-2 loss at Columbus. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said he liked the defensive commitment but wanted cleaner finishing after “looks to try and win it.”

Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon played his 967th career game, tying Adam Foote for third in Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques history.

Key quotes

Stamkos said drawing the overtime power play created “a great opportunity” after earlier man-advantage looks missed the net. “That one felt really good coming off the stick,” he told NHL.com. “It’s a great team effort tonight.”

Brunette framed the win as a road response against a skilled Avalanche club: “I thought we came out where we attacked. We didn’t wait for them to get to us.” Bednar pointed to improved defensive commitment after Tuesday’s blowout loss but said Colorado still needed cleaner finishing on its late chances.

Toews declined to discuss the overtime hooking call in detail: “They call it, and you lose the game. That’s the way it goes.”

FAQ