Denver, CO – The Nashville Predators lost to the Colorado Avalanche in a President’s Day matinee, 6-5 after pulling starting goalie Chris Mason in the second period.

Aaron Palushaj put the Avalanche on the board 3:43 into the first period when his wrist shot trickled past Mason, after bouncing off of the goalie’s skate. Colorado scored again at the 9:30 mark when Tyson Barrie netted a slap shot to make it 2-0.

Nashville got on the scoreboard at 17:20 when Sergei Kostitsyn slapped a wrist shot into the net to make it 2-1. The first period ended with that score.Matt Duchene scored at 3:18 into the second period to make it 3-1. Nashville’s Mike Fisher then made it 3-2 with a goal at 10:16 of the second.

Colorado answered with a Chuck Kobasew snap shot at 11:06 to regain a two goal lead, 4-2.

Colin Wilson made it 4-3 when his backhand was netted for the Predators.

Colorado wouldn’t let up. Just 16 seconds later, Paul Stastny put a wrist shot past Chris Mason to make it 5-3 in favor of the Avalanche. Then Jamie McGinn netted a snap shot for Colorado just 33 seconds later and suddenly it was 6-3 Colorado.

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Chris Mason-Nashville Predators Goalie

Nashville’s Jonathon Blum scored for Nashville at 19:10 of the second period and made it 6-4 and coach Barry Trotz pulled goalie Chris Mason, and put Pekka Rinne into the game. Mason gave up 6 goals on 18 shots.

Nashville had the only goal of the third period when Shea Weber hit a wrist shot at 18:42 of the third for the final score of the game, 6-5.

The Avalanche broke a nine game losing streak against the Predators with the win. Nashville came into the game with the fewest goals-per-game in the NHL.

Nashville appeared to be the victim of a bad call when during the second period, Colorado’s Matt Duchene was clearly off side before the puck cleared the Predator’s blueline and scored on a breakaway. There was no call on the play.

Next Game

The Predators return to Nashville to face the Detroit Redwings tomorrow night at the Bridgestone Arena. This will mark the return of former Predator Jordan Tootoo. The Puck drops at 7:00pm.