Samuel Girard’s OT goal pushes Avalanche past the Predators

Samuel Girard scored at 2:47 of overtime and the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Monday night in Denver.

Nashville defenseman Brady Skeji had the puck just inside the blue line in the Colorado zone but lost a lead. Girard took the puck, skated to Juuse Saros in front of Skeji and scored over Saros’ blocker to win.

It was his first goal of the season and he also added an assist on the night.

Mikko Rantanen and Devon Toews also scored and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 29 shots for the Avalanche, who have won two straight.

Luke Evangelista and Colton Sissons scored for the Predators and Saros finished the game with 29 saves.

Georgiev allowed an early goal for the second straight game, but then kept Nashville off the field for the next two periods. The Predators scored this goal with 1:45 left during a delayed penalty.

Juuso Parssinen shot from where Georgiev stopped, but Evangelista grabbed the rebound and converted it into his second goal of the season.

It stayed that way until the second third. Four seconds after Nashville killed Zachary L’Heureux’s minor, Toews fired a shot from the point that was deflected off a Predators stick and off Saros at 4:32.

It was Toews’ first goal of the season.

The Avalanche took the lead midway through the second when Joel Kiviranta had the puck at the top of the slot, passed it to Rantanen in the right circle and his one-timer beat Saros on the short side at 11:37.

It was his ninth game of the season and the second consecutive game in which he scored a goal.

Nashville equalized in the first minute of the final period. Roman Josi stole the puck at the Colorado blueline, ran into the zone and fed Sissons with a pass on the side of the goal crease. Sissons pushed the ball into the wide open goal after 59 seconds.

It was his second of the season.

–Field level media