Steven Stamkos scored a power-play goal 2:18 into overtime, lifting the Nashville Predators to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Thursday.
Vitali Pinchuk scored his first NHL goal, Ross Colton also scored and Ryan O’Reilly had two assists for Nashville, which won for the first time in three games this season that ended in overtime.
Justus Annunen turned away 30 shots as the Predators earned their third win in a row overall.
Devon Toews, who hit a post earlier in the overtime, took a hooking minor 2:02 into the extra period. After a timeout, the Predators worked the puck around to Stamkos, whose one-timer from the top of the right circle beat Mackenzie Blackwood.
It was the 247th career power-play goal for Stamkos, which ties Luc Robitaille for fifth on the NHL all-time list. Stamkos topped Phil Esposito, who had 246 man-advantage goals.
Parker Kelly and Jaden Schwartz had goals and Blackwood made 22 saves for Colorado, which extended its home point streak to six games (4-0-2). The Avalanche took their second straight loss overall (0-1-1).
Colton gave Nashville a 1-0 lead when he finished a mad scramble in front of Blackwood by backhanding the loose puck into the net at 4:01 of the first period. The Avalanche tied it midway through the first when Martin Necas grabbed a turnover and sent a pass through the slot to Schwartz, who beat Annunen.
The Predators went back in front five minutes later when Pinchuk roofed a sharp-angled backhander over Blackwood’s left shoulder at 14:34. Pinchuk, 24, was appearing in his seventh NHL game.
Colorado again tied it when Logan O’Connor chipped a puck to Kelly skating down the left side to start a 2-on-1 with Fedor Svechkov. Kelly buried a wrister to the short side at 5:08 of the second.
Both teams had chances to go ahead in the third period. Nashville got a four-minute power play that was cut in half by a too-many men minor. Later, Roman Josi fed Adam Wilsby to the left of the crease, but Blackwood slid over to rob the defenseman and keep it tied.
The Avalanche had a pair of odd-man rushes in the third that were thwarted by good defensive plays.
–Field Level Media
