Duchene scores 2nd goal in OT, Predators top Avalanche 5-4
Jan 11, 2022, 6:15 AM | Updated: 9:21 pm
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) moves the puck away from goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
(AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Matt Duchene scored two goals, including the game-winner on a power play 3:01 into overtime, and the streaking Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Luke Kunin also scored twice, Tanner Jeannot added a goal and Juuse Saros made 40 saves to help Western Conference-leading Nashville win its fifth straight. Roman Josi had three assists in a matchup between the top two teams in the Central Division.
“I just liked our mindset,” Predators coach John Hynes said. “We just kept playing and doing the right things.”
Cale Makar had a goal and two assists for Colorado, which had won five in a row. Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Andre Burakovsky and Nathan MacKinnon also scored for the Avalanche, and Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves.
In overtime, J.T. Compher blocked Josi’s shot attempt, but the puck caromed to Duchene in the slot, where he fired it past Kuemper.
“That’s a good feeling, a good feeling for sure,” Duchene said. “It just bounced out. Obviously, kind of an open net, I just had to hit my spot. I didn’t have a ton of time to think, which is always good, too. You just kind of let your body take over.”
The Avalanche disagreed with the penalty for too many men on the ice that led to Nashville’s power play in overtime.
“Our guys, we’re frustrated over it,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “I still haven’t seen the too many men. I’ve already looked at the video.”
Late in the third period and with the Avalanche trailing by a goal, Makar drove from the blue line to the right circle, where he snapped a wrist shot over Saros’ glove for another highlight-reel goal for the young defenseman.
“We’ve had some slow starts lately and then we’ve kind of had to dig ourselves out of the hole,” Makar said. “Luckily our shovels have been pretty big lately and we’ve been able to score a few.”
The teams entered the third period with Nashville holding a 3-2 advantage. They traded power-play goals, with MacKinnon tying the game at 5:21 before Duchene answered at the 10-minute mark.
Jeannot scored the game’s first goal at 2:32 of the opening period and Kunin gave Nashville a 2-0 lead with 55.3 seconds remaining in the first.
Aube-Kubel halved the Nashville lead at 8:15 of the second, burying the rebound of Nazem Kadri’s shot. Burakovsky tied it less than four minutes later.
BOROWIECKI SIDELINED
On his goal, Burakovsky’s initial shot was blocked by Nashville defenseman Mark Borowiecki. After blocking the shot with his hip, Borowiecki stayed down on the ice while play was allowed to continue. Burakovsky then beat Saros with a wrist shot under the crossbar.
After blocking Burakovsky’s shot, Borowiecki had to be helped off the ice by a pair of teammates. He did not return to the game.
CONSISTENT KADRI
With a pair of assists, Kadri extended his point streak to eight games (two goals, 12 assists). His personal best is a nine-game point streak set in November 2017.
Kadri has at least one point in 13 consecutive games in which he has appeared in the lineup. An injury sidelined him for three games in December, ending his previous streak.
LINEUP SHAKEUP
Prior to the game, the Avalanche announced that defenseman Bowen Byrum had left the team for personal reasons and would not play Tuesday.
Colorado center Darren Helm missed the game due to a lower-body injury. Mikhail Maltsev was recalled from the taxi squad.
UP NEXT
Avalanche: Host the Arizona Coyotes in the first leg of a home-and-home, back-to-back set.
Predators: Host the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
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