Predators 5, Avalanche 2: Craig Smith broke a tie with his fifth goal in six games as Nashville easily won its sixth straight at home.

Calder Trophy candidate Filip Forsberg recorded his 21st goal - matching James Neal for the team lead - while Eric Nystrom tallied into an empty net while short-handed midway through the third period for the Predators, who improved to 26-3-1 at Bridgestone Arena and 15-1-0 in their last 16 home contests. Defenseman Roman Josi registered his 11th goal and an assist, rookie Calle Jarnkrok also scored and Pekka Rinne made 18 saves as Nashville raised its record to an NHL-best 41-13-7.

Nathan MacKinnon recorded his fourth goal in two contests and John Mitchell added a power-play tally for Colorado, which had its two-game winning streak snapped. Semyon Varlamov stopped 25 of the 29 shots he faced in his 17th straight start before being pulled 2:19 into the third period.

MacKinnon, who recorded his first career hat trick in Sunday's 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay, started the scoring at 3:57 as his shot that was headed wide caromed off Josi's skate and past an unsuspecting Rinne for his 13th of the season. The lead lasted for 15 seconds as Jarnkrok collected the puck at his own blue line after Avalanche defenseman Stefan Elliott fanned on a pass attempt and raced in alone on Varlamov before roofing a backhander.

Smith made it 2-1 when he blasted a shot inside the right post at 4:32 of the second period and Josi's soft shot from the left point sailed into the top left corner of the net 6:34 later. Forsberg won a faceoff in the right circle, spun around and wired a shot past Varlamov 54 seconds into the third period before Colorado coach Patrick Roy's decision to pull Reto Berra (11 saves) during a power play backfired as Nystrom blindly cleared the puck from his own end and into the net to make it 5-1.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Nashville D Shea Weber, who recorded nine shots in 16:35 of ice time, took exception to fellow captain Gabriel Landeskog's big hit on Josi in the first period and the two engaged in a spirited fight. Weber sat for 17 minutes after picking up additional instigator and misconduct penalties. ... Colorado C Ryan O'Reilly has collected six assists in his last six games. ... The Avalanche visit Dallas on Friday and host Minnesota on Saturday - two of the four teams they must pass to reach the Stanley Cup playoffs.