After one of their first true laugher games of the season Monday night, it was back to the old grindstone for the Avs against the Nashville Predators on Friday night.
This game was tight all the way. And when it was over, the Avalanche held on for a 2-1 victory for its fourth win in a row to regain the lead in the Northwest Division.
Colorado got out to a slow start, not getting its first shot on net until about the nine-minute mark. And while the Avs were outshot 12-4 in the first period, they had a 1-0 lead thanks to strong goaltending by Craig Anderson and a power-play goal by Matt Duchene.
Duchene put home Paul Stastny’s crossing pass with the Avs on a 5-on-3 power play for his 16th goal of the season and fifth in the last five games.
Rookie Brandon Yip made it 2-0 in the second, jamming home a loose puck after some good work by Darcy Tucker and Ryan Stoa.
But Nashville got back in the game with a power-play goal by defenseman Cody Franson.
