NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Blake Comeau had a goal and an assist, and the Colorado Avalanche used a fast start to edge the Nashville Predators 4-3 on Monday night.
Gabriel Landeskog and Jack Skille also scored in the first, helping Colorado chase Pekka Rinne at 11:40 after giving up three goals on 10 shots faced. Shawn Matthias’s goal in the third wound up the game-winner.
The Avalanche played without centers Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon because of knee injuries. But Colorado managed to stay close to Minnesota in the race for the second wild card in the Western Conference, pulling within three points of the idle Wild with six games left.
Nashville had recorded at least a point in 10 straight home games. It needed a regulation win to clinch its second straight playoff berth.
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