Rantanen, Newhook goals lift Avs to victory over Predators, 3-2

DENVER (AP) — Mikko Rantanen and Alex Newhook scored goals in the second period, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 3-1 on Saturday night.

Cale Makar scored in the last minute to score into the empty net. Alexandar Georgiev stopped all 25 shots for Colorado. The team bounced back from its loss to Buffalo on Thursday night’s opener of its five-game homestand.

Juuse Saros saved 27 shots, while Matt Duchene scored for the Predators. They are now 0-4-2 after a three-game win streak in November and December.

Rantanen made his first power play attempt and hit the post. Saros was just seconds away, beating Rantanen high from the right corner at 8:38 in the second period. It was his 21st goal of this season and his sixth goal in five games.

The goal broke the 0-for-18 power play streak. Newhook scored Colorado’s last power-play goal Dec. 5 at Philadelphia.

Nashville was able to turn it over in the second period, and Newhook capitalized by scoring a one-timer at 19:44 on Evan Rodrigues’ pass. Since returning from a nine game absence, Rodrigues has scored a goal and assisted.

Duchene brought the Predators within one goal when he scored from his own rebound three minutes into the third. In 11 regular-season games, Duchene has scored 10 goals for his former team.

Nashville twice pulled Saros in the final minutes for an additional skater. They had a chance to score, but Makar scored the winning goal with 32 seconds remaining.

NOTES: Avalanche G Pavel Francouz served as Georgiev’s backup after missing Thursday’s game due to illness. … Nashville’s C Mikael Grandlund participated in his 700th career match. On Saturday, D Brad Hunt was recalled by Colorado from the AHL. He was part of the third pairing along with Andreas Englund.

UP NEXT

Predators: Edmonton hosts them Monday night.

Avalanche: Monday Night Host to the New York Islanders