Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly, center, struggles to control the puck as Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, left, and defenseman Samuel Girard cover in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
DENVER (AP) — Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 38 shots in his Colorado debut, and the Avalanche held off a late Nashville surge to beat the Predators 5-2 on Saturday night.
Nathan MacKinnon had two goals and an assist, Artturi Leknonen scored twice and Ross Colton had a goal for the Avalanche.
Steven Stamkos and Luke Evangelista scored for Nashville, and Juuse Saros finished with 29 saves.
Colorado acquired Blackwood from San Jose on Monday and he made a great first impression in front of the home fans. He stopped the first 37 shots he faced before Stamkos scored with 6:57 remaining in the third.
Evangelista made it a one-goal game on a delayed penalty with 4:52 to go, MacKinnon and Lehkonen scored empty-net goals in the final 2 minutes to seal the win.
Defenseman Roman Josi missed his second straight game with a lower-body injury for Nashville.
Takeaways
Predators: The top line was buzzing despite not getting rewarded until Stamkos scored. Forsberg and Stamkos had five shots each and Jonathan Marchessault had three.
Avalanche: MacKinnon is heating up after a slow stretch. He had just one goal in 13 games in the last half of November but has scored five in December, including a goal in three straight games. He passed Michel Goulet for third on the franchise list in scoring with 948 points.
Key moment
Midway through the second period Stamkos got behind Colorado’s defense and skated in alone on net, but Blackwood made the save to keep the game scoreless. Less than three minutes later, Colton gave the Avalanche the lead.
Key stat
MacKinnon now has 50 points for the season, tops in the NHL.
Up Next
Predators host the New York Rangers on Tuesday to open a four-game homestand, and Avalanche visit Vancouver on Monday to start a three-game trip.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski, left, pursues the puck with Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Nashville Predators defenseman Nick Blankenburg, right, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Ivan Ivan defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood prepares to man the net in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Nashville Predators left wing Cole Smith, left, fights to control the puck with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos, left, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Calvin de Haan covers in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Nashville Predators center Jonathan Marchessault, front, pins Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly to the boards while pursuing the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg, left, fights for control of the puck with Colorado Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, center, drives between Nashville Predators centers Jonathan Marchessault, left, and Steven Stamkos in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L'Heureux, front, pursues the puck while, from back left, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, defenseman Sam Malinski, center Casey Mittelstadt and defenseman Samuel Girard cover in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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