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Wilson, Preds deny Avalanche a share of NHL record

Nov 7, 2013 - 7:37 AM Denver, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Colorado had the home crowd on its side and a second six-game win streak of the season in its pocket Wednesday, bidding for the second 13-1-0 start in NHL history.

One problem: Nashville came into Pepsi Center revved up for the third edition of a seven-game road trip.

Thanks to a two-goal, two-assist effort by Colin Wilson, the Predators claimed a 6-4 victory over the Avalanche.

Though Matt Duchene -- who recorded the 13th three-point game of his career -- tied the game early in the third, Wilson's second goal of the contest put the visitors ahead to stay and Gabriel Bourque added a late tally to seal the victory.

Paul Gaustad, Craig Smith and Viktor Stalberg also lit the lamp for the Predators, who have won two in a row on their current sojourn.

Carter Hutton improved to 4-1-1 this season after a 27-save performance.

"It was a big win here," Predators coach Barry Trotz said. "This is an extremely good team with some dangerous guys and we were able to keep them at bay. They got some good looks, but not enough. Our forwards were really good tonight. They got challenged a little bit and they responded."

PA Parenteau, Ryan O'Reilly and Paul Stastny provided additional offense for the Avalanche, who suffered the same fate as their 1995 Nordiques counterparts that began 12-1-0 before losing in their 14th game.

Semyon Varlamov yielded five scores on 27 shots in defeat, but Colorado head coach Patrick Roy sympathized with his starter: "Varly was fighting out there. The goals were not his fault."

The Ottawa Senators remain the sole franchise to start a season with 13 wins in their first 14 games, having done so in 2007-08.

Duchene turned on the jets and split two defenders on a rush up the middle to beat Hutton for a 4-4 deadlock just 4:23 into the third period.

Wilson then imitated his opponent, taking the same route up the slot to tally his second of the night with 7:34 played, using the backhand to beat Varlamov in close.

"We were just trading chances back and forth. This was a wide open game," Wilson noted. "It was a lot of fun, and we stayed confident all game. Viktor (Stalberg) has a big body, moves fast and can open up a lot of space for me. It felt great to put the puck in the net."

Gabriel Landeskog's personal effort to the net resulted in his shot clanging off the crossbar with 5 1/2 minutes to play and it was a negative omen for the Avs.

The hosts pulled Varlamov with 1:33 left, but the Preds closed off most passing and shooting lanes. Bourque put the insurance tally into an empty net inside of 18 seconds left.

"You're not gonna be perfect every night. What has to be perfect is our work ethic," said Landeskog. "Tonight, the work was there, but we were sloppy on defense. It was tough not getting the tying goal. We have to take what we did in the third and carry it to the next game."

Stalberg's first goal with his new club put the Predators on the board with 6:48 remaining in the first period, but Parenteau equalized for the Avs just over two minutes later by chipping in a Duchene pass to complete a 2-on-1 break.

Smith gave the visitors a 2-1 edge on a power play, on a rising wrister from the inner edge of the right circle as 52.8 seconds remained on the first- period clock.

The game was tied with 2:15 elapsed in the second, as Parenteau's drop pass in the left circle turned into O'Reilly's successful one-timer.

Nashville responded only 59 seconds later when Gaustad was credited with tipping in a Filip Forsberg shot from the right-wing boards, then took a 4-2 edge on the advantage after Wilson cruised to the left post to knock home a Ryan Ellis dish.

Colorado caught a break when Stalberg's stick snapped on a breakaway minutes later, and though the hosts failed on a power-play chance soon after, climbed back within a goal.

Jamie McGinn was allowed to carry up the right wing, and a seam opened up in the middle where Stastny redirected a pass off the far post and in with 6:23 remaining.

Game Notes

Quebec fell to 12-2-0 on Feb. 18, 1995 by losing 4-2 to the Capitals in Landover, MD ... Wilson picked up his second career four-point game, nearly doubling his season output heading into the tilt (1G, 4A in 14 games) ... Nashville tied a franchise record for most goals in one game at Denver since entering the league in 1998. The Preds recorded a 6-1 victory on Apr. 7, 2012 ... Duchene became one of six players to hit double digits in goals (Alex Steen, Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos, Jason Pominville, Corey Perry) ... Ellis and David Legwand each earned two assists for Nashville ... Avs defenseman Ryan Wilson left during the second period and did not return due to a back injury ... Colorado blueliner Erik Johnson was given a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the second period for throwing his broken stick over the glass to a fan.