Twice the charm as Nashville Predators rebound with 3-2 OT victory over Colorado Avalanche–NHL Update
The Nashville Predators defeated the Colorado Avalanche for the second time in a row with a 3-2 overtime victory on Thursday, January 12, 2012, at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.
Even though Colorado put in a better performance this time around, with their first game ending in an embarrassing 4-1 defeat, Avalanche were not able to stop the Predators, who have now built up a three-game winning streak.
The win saw Nashville jumping into the playoff spots as they moved up to the sixth position in the Western Conference, with a 24-15-4 record.
Avalanche started the season brightly, but a string of poor performances recently saw them move down the Western Conference, with a 23-20-2 record. The loss also adds to the team’s losing streak, bringing it to three games in a row.
Colorado started the game brightly and for some time, it looked as if they will be able to snap their losing streak.
Ryan O’ Reilly put them ahead in the first period with a brilliant solo effort at 6:09, and Colorado built on that lead six minutes later, going two goals up as O’ Reilly turned a provider with a good pass forward, which Gabriel Landeskog had no problem
putting behind Pekka Rinne, who made 27 saves during the game.
2-0 up and outshooting the Predators 15-7, it looked like Avalanche may have turned a corner, but the Predators were not ready for a defeat.
David Legwand pegged the score back, bringing the difference to a single goal, with a well taken effort 11 minutes into the second period as the Predators started turning the s***w.
Avalanche's goaltender, Jean-Sebastien Giguere had a great game, making 32 saves on the night and keeping out the Predators in six power-plays, but Sergei Kostitsyn finally put the puck past Giguere at 8:48, in the third period.
Giguere’s later heroics kept the scores intact as the game progressed into overtime.
David Legwand however, scored just 30 seconds into overtime to give the Predators a victory.
Avalanche's coach, Joe Sacco was satisfied with the effort but believed his team could have done a better job.
"It was a point, which we obviously needed in the standings, but I certainly think we could have been a lot better", Sacco said.
Nashville's coach, Barry Trotz was proud of his team, having the character to come back from two goals down, and praised the players.
"We just kept coming and coming", Nashville's coach, Barry Trotz, said.
"We had some good chances and obviously Legwand has a bit of a penchant for getting the big goals this year. ... Coming back after being down two periods allows you to find out what kind of character you have, so this is a real good win for us".
Nashville Predators now face Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday in a tough game, while Colorado Avalanche visit Dallas to face-off the Stars.
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