The Nashville Predators delivered a major upset Tuesday night, defeating the dominant Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in a tense shootout at Bridgestone Arena. This crucial victory marked Nashville’s fifth win in their last seven contests, signaling a significant turnaround for a team battling inconsistent play early this season. Facing the league’s top-ranked club, the Predators relied on a stellar performance from their goaltender, Juuse Saros, and a decisive moment from veteran forward Ryan O’Reilly.
The game began with a flurry of early scoring. Colorado struck first quickly, taking a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the action when Brock Nelson slipped a backhand shot past Saros. Nashville responded almost immediately, showing resilience. Jonathan Marchessault tied the score on a power play, burying his own rebound. Less than two minutes later, Reid Schaefer put the Predators ahead, successfully driving to the net from the corner and beating Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood. However, the lead was short-lived. Artturi Lehkonen found a loose puck near the crease to knot the score at 2-2 before the first period concluded.
Following the initial scoring barrage, the middle period featured tight, defensive hockey. Both Saros and Wedgewood settled down, turning away numerous high-quality scoring chances. The scoreless second period maintained the parity heading into the final frame. Nashville finally broke the deadlock late in the third. Defenseman Brady Skjei sent a seemingly soft wrist shot through heavy traffic. The puck found its way through a screen and beat Wedgewood to put the Predators up 3-2 with roughly seven minutes remaining.
The Predators appeared ready to seal the victory in regulation. However, a late penalty gave Colorado a lifeline. With Wedgewood pulled for an extra attacker, the Avalanche converted the 6-on-4 power play chance. Star defenseman Cale Makar scored with only eight seconds left on the clock, sending the intense matchup into overtime. The extra frame saw both teams exchange scoring opportunities, but neither side could break the 3-3 tie, forcing a shootout.
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The shootout immediately descended into chaos. O’Reilly opened the scoring for Nashville with the first attempt. On the Predators’ second shot, Filip Forsberg was denied by Wedgewood but subsequently crashed hard into the Colorado goalie. Wedgewood initially remained in the net. However, before the Avalanche could attempt their third shot, the NHL’s centralized concussion spotter intervened. Following protocol, officials mandated Wedgewood’s removal from the game due to the collision. Backup goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood entered the crease but never faced a shot. Saros successfully stopped all three Avalanche shooters he faced, including the final attempt by Gabriel Landeskog. This sealed the 4-3 win for Nashville and handed the league-leading Avalanche their fourth shootout loss of the season.
Saros finished the night with 39 saves, a monumental effort against a relentless Colorado offense led by players like Nathan MacKinnon. The Predators’ ability to defeat such an elite opponent, especially one that leads the NHL in points, highlights their recent uptick in performance. They continue working to climb the Western Conference standings. The team successfully executed their game plan, demonstrating the competitive fire Head Coach Andrew Brunette praised after the final buzzer.
