O'Reilly has four points, Predators roll past Avalanche
Stamkos, Forsberg, Josi each gets three points for Nashville
By Russell Vannozzi
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
NASHVILLE -- Ryan O'Reilly had two goals and two assists to help the Nashville Predators to a 6-2 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday.
Steven Stamkos had two goals and an assist, Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists and Roman Josi had three assists for the Predators (4-3-4), who have points in four of their past five games (2-1-2). Justus Annunen made 19 saves.
O’Reilly scored two power-play goals to help Nashville finish 4-for-7 on the man-advantage.
Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews scored for the Avalanche (6-5-1), who have lost three of four. Martin Necas had two assists, and Scott Wedgewood made 29 saves.
Forsberg put Nashville ahead 1-0 with a power-play goal at 4:01 of the first period. Stamkos kept the puck in the offensive zone by blocking Logan O’Connor’s clearing attempt along the boards, allowing Josi to collect the loose puck and feed Forsberg for a snap shot from the high slot.
Stamkos made it 2-0 at 10:48 after video review showed his wrist shot bounced off Wedgewood and fully crossed the goal line. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar swatted at the bouncing puck but was unable to keep it out of the net.
O’Reilly used his skate to corral a pass from Josi, then turned and lifted a backhanded shot over Wedgewood for his first goal at 6:38 of the second period, putting the Predators up 3-0.
Ex-Avalanche forwards Ross Colton and Jack Drury, skating in their first game against their former team, extended Nashville’s lead to 4-0 at 16:36. Colton found Drury alone on Wedgewood’s blocker side, and Drury tucked a backhand around the goaltender’s outstretched glove.
O’Reilly’s second power-play tally came on a wrist shot at 17:29 to give the Predators a 5-0 advantage.
Lehkonen extended his point streak to seven games by tapping in Necas’ centering feed to trim Nashville’s lead to 5-1 at 17:55. He has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) on his streak.
Toews scored on a wrist shot at 2:43 of the third period during 4-on-4 play to make it 5-2.
Stamkos scored on a 5-on-3 power play when the Predators caught Wedgewood out of the net at 10:24. O’Reilly picked up a rebound shot behind the net and sent a backhanded pass to Stamkos, who fired a wrist shot from the right side for the 6-2 final.
