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Avs, Preds renew rivalry in Colorado

Jan 30, 2015 - 3:59 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators meet for the second time this week, as the Central Division foes battle Friday in the Mile High City.

The Predators recorded a 4-3 overtime win Tuesday against the visiting Avalanche, but Nashville then lost for the third time in four games when it dropped Thursday's shootout decision in St. Louis.

Colorado, meanwhile, has been idle since losing in the Music City earlier this week.

Nashville's recent win over the Avs came after Craig Smith beat Semyon Varlamov with a wrister at 2:46 of the extra session. It was the third win in the past five meetings for the Predators, who also have claimed two straight and six of the last nine encounters in Colorado.

Although the Avalanche blew an early 1-0 lead on Tuesday the club did well to earn a point in the end. Colorado tied the game on Nick Holden's goal with 36 seconds left in regulation, but Nashville was still able to win the game shortly after Carter Hutton made a tough save on a Zach Redmond one-timer.

The Predators skated down the other way and Mike Ribeiro sent a saucer pass from the right boards to the left for Smith, who skated down the middle and snapped a wrister past Varlamov for the victory.

"It was a tough game today," said Colorado head coach Patrick Roy. "I thought we had a good first period, but they took advantage of some things in the second. I'm glad to see that late goal and at least get a point out of here."

Jarome Iginla and Cody McLeod added the other goals for Colorado, which is four points out of a playoff spot in the West.

Varlamov took the loss on Tuesday after making 35 saves. He is 6-3-1 with a 3.15 goals against average in 10 career games against the Predators and is expected to start again tonight,

After tonight, Colorado won't play again until visiting Dallas on Tuesday.

Nashville lost 5-4 to the Blues on Thursday, but it was able to salvage a point thanks to a game-tying goal by James Neal late in regulation. However, the extra point gained by St. Louis cut the Preds' lead for first place in the Central to four points.

St. Louis carried a 4-3 lead into the third period on Thursday, but the Predators were able to salvage a point thanks to Neal's marker with 2:38 left in the third. However, Brian Elliott, who made 33 saves through overtime, came up with three key stops in the shootout to help the Blues pick up the win.

"It's a good confidence builder (getting that late goal)," Predators defenseman Shea Weber said.

Mike Fisher scored twice for the Predators and Filip Forsberg also notched a goal. Carter Hutton allowed four goals on 35 shots in the loss.

Neal, meanwhile, failed on a chance to convert in the shootout and extend the game. After Kevin Shattenkirk scored for the Blues to begin the fourth round, Neal lost the puck while skating in on Elliott to end the contest.

Thursday's tilt marked the start of a three-game road trip for the Preds, who have dropped three in a row as the guest. They are 12-8-5 away from Nashville this season.

Hutton has started all five games since No. 1 netminder Pekka Rinne suffered a lower-body injury in a win over Vancouver on Jan. 13, but Marek Mazanec could get the call tonight. Mazanec, a 23-year-old Czech, has never faced the Avalanche in his brief career.