{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
Nashville 5, Colorado 2
When: 8:00 PM ET, Thursday, December 16, 2021
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Referees: Brandon Schrader, Justin St. Pierre
Linesmen: Julien Fournier, Mitch Hunt
Attendance: 17184

Filip Forsberg tallied two goals and an assist, Tanner Jeannot notched a goal and an assist, and the host Nashville Predators beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2 on Thursday night as both teams dealt with COVID-19 issues.

Roman Josi and Mattias Ekholm also scored, Colton Sissons had three assists, Alexandre Carrier had two assists and Juuse Saros stopped 24 shots for Nashville.

Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist, Valeri Nichushkin scored and Pavel Francouz made 30 saves for the Avalanche.

The Predators have seven players and four coaches, including the entire bench staff, on the protocol list. Karl Taylor -- coach of the Milwaukee Admirals, Nashville's AHL affiliate -- served as the acting coach.

Colorado added four players to the list before the game. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper, Cale Makar, Andre Burakovsky and J.T. Compher were put on the protocol list. Defenseman Jack Johnson tested negative in the first period and was able to play.

The Avalanche used Dustin Smith as the emergency backup goaltender.

The Predators got on the board in the first period when Forsberg's shot from the top of the right circle went through traffic, off the post and in at 13:23.

Just 28 seconds into Colorado's third penalty of the second period, Jeannot got a pass in the slot and beat Francouz at 7:20. It was his seventh score of the season.

The Avalanche got one back halfway through the second period when Rantanen one-timed a rebound just inside the right post at 9:57. It was his 14th goal of the season.

Forsberg answered when his pass deflected off Sam Girard's stick and through Francouz's legs at 16:48. It was his 13th score of the season.

Colorado made it 3-2 when Nichushkin scored his 10th of the season at 9:12 of the third. Josi answered at 12:19 with a power-play goal, his 10th marker of the season.

Francouz came off for an extra skater and Ekholm scored into the empty net at 18:52. It was his first goal of the season.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Colorado   Nashville
Mikko Rantanen 2 Points Filip Forsberg 3
Mikko Rantanen 1 Goals Filip Forsberg 2
Mikko Rantanen 1 Assists Colton Sissons 3
Mikko Rantanen 1 Power Play Goals Tanner Jeannot 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Pavel Francouz .882 Save Percentage Juuse Saros .923
Pavel Francouz 30 Saves Juuse Saros 24
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Colorado 26 2 1-4 3-5 10 29
Nashville 35 5 2-5 3-4 8 26
Upcoming Games
  • Nashville will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Predators have a W/L % of .556 after a win and .727 after a loss.
  • Colorado will play their next game at home against Tampa Bay. The Avalanche have a W/L % of .611 after a win and .667 after a loss.