Stamkos overtime winner lifts Predators past Avalanche 3-2

Steven Stamkos scored 2:18 into overtime to give the Nashville Predators a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Thursday. Nashville secured its third consecutive win after Colorado twice recovered from a one-goal deficit, with the decisive breakthrough coming on the power play after a scoreless third period.

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According to Mile High Hockey's game report, Colorado had opportunities to settle the contest before Stamkos intervened. Devon Toews struck the post in overtime after being found by Nathan MacKinnon, then went to the penalty box. The scoring record lists Roman Josi and Ryan O'Reilly as the assists on Stamkos's winner, which was his ninth goal of the season.

Ross Colton had given Nashville the lead at 4:01 of the opening period, with O'Reilly supplying the assist. Colorado responded at 9:11 through Jaden Schwartz. Mile High Hockey reported that Brock Nelson's pressure helped force a turnover before Martin Necas found Schwartz moving toward the net. The equaliser was Schwartz's seventh goal of the campaign.

Vitali Pinchuk restored Nashville's advantage at 14:34 of the first period with his first NHL goal. Reid Schaefer created the chance by taking possession from Nelson and finding Pinchuk near the net, according to the game report. Colorado drew level again at 5:08 of the second when Parker Kelly finished a break following Logan O'Connor's chip out of the defensive zone.

Neither side scored again in regulation. Justus Annunen finished with 30 saves from Colorado's 32 shots, while Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 22 of Nashville's 25 attempts, according to daily.hockey's box score. The special-teams totals underlined the importance of the overtime opportunity: Nashville converted one of five power plays, while Colorado failed to score on any of its three.

O'Reilly ended the night with two assists, contributing to both the opening goal and the winner. Nashville improved to 7-4-5, and the result gave it a second victory over Colorado this season after a 6-2 win on October 25. The teams' next scheduled meeting is January 10, with another matchup listed for March 2.