Fresh off slaying some demons with wins in Minnesota and St. Louis, the Colorado Avalanche returned home to take on their ultimate nemesis, the Nashville Predators. Losers of nine straight against the Preds, the Avalanche came into Friday night’s contest looking to avenge a 4-3 come-from-ahead overtime loss in their last contest.

With both teams coming in on the second night of a back-to-back, it was going to be an interesting clash of two tired teams. Semyon Varlamov got the start for Colorado, his 16th straight appearance for the Avalanche an was fresh off a 44-save effort in St. Louis last night. Starting opposite him was rested backup and top young player Juuse Saros, adding further intrigue to the matchup.

The Avalanche came out of the gates absolutely flying, racking up shots and scoring chances and generating a whirlwind of pressure but getting nothing except a bundle of sad memories. Nashville, however, found their legs as the period went on and broke the stalemate when Colton Sissons took a slow pass that somehow got by Duncan Siemens and beat Varlamov high on the short side, an area Varlamov has given up a handful of goals in the last few weeks.

Nashville took their 1-0 lead into the final minute of the period when Colorado’s elite top line cashed in and Nathan MacKinnon (who else?) beat Saros with a blistering slap shot to tie the game as they headed into the second period.

Playing to clinch a playoff spot, the Predators picked up the physicality in the second period and it was clear the experienced Cup contender was done trifling with this young upstart squad from the Mile High City. Except Colorado’s fourth line had the shift of the game and Gabe Landeskog jumped on the ice and tapped home a rebound in front to give Colorado the 2-1 lead.

That punch to the mouth gave Nashville the jolt they were looking for and Filip Forsberg tied the game on a rebound attempt in front as Nikita Zadorov tried to clear the puck away and Forsberg got to it first, tying the game at two and swinging the pendulum back to Nashville.

They continued the heavy play and a questionable sequence saw one Preds player literally laying on top of Landeskog as the Avalanche tried to cycle the puck but it went uncalled and the Predators went the other way with the puck. Sissons took a pass in the slot and ripped it off the post and in to give Nashville its second lead of the game, this time 3-2. Despite heavy Colorado pressure, Nashville took its lead to the third period as they looked to finish off their tenth straight victory over the Avs.

Colorado pressed hard in the third and had multiple power plays to even up the game but Saros played much larger than his diminutive 5’11” frame would suggest and kept the Avs from scoring. Forsberg got his second of the night with an empty net goal to seal the victory for Nashville and clinch their spot in the playoffs.