Ryan O'Reilly scored a hat trick and added an assist to lead the Nashville Predators to a 7-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, handing Colorado its first regulation home loss of the season. The victory snapped the Avalanche's 22-game home point streak at Ball Arena. Nashville has now won three straight games.
The Nashville Predators (23-20-4) defeated the Colorado Avalanche (33-5-8) 7-3 at Ball Arena in Denver, ending Colorado's impressive 22-game home point streak, which tied for the fifth-longest in NHL history. This marked the Avalanche's first regulation home loss this season, where they had previously gone 19-1-3.
Ryan O'Reilly was the standout performer for Nashville, notching his seventh career hat trick—all three goals in the first two periods—and adding an assist for four points total. "Obviously, a great win for us. Thought everyone competed, everyone played hard tonight," O'Reilly said. "To give that team their first regulation loss here is something to be proud of."
The game started quickly, with O'Reilly opening the scoring at 30 seconds of the first period, going forehand to backhand at the crease for a 1-0 lead. Brock Nelson tied it 1-1 at 1:24, backhanding a rebound through Juuse Saros' five-hole. O'Reilly's second goal came at 7:32, credited after his centering pass was deflected by Samuel Girard. Nelson equalized again at 11:16, redirecting Josh Manson's shot to make it 2-2.
In the second period, O'Reilly completed his hat trick at 13:01, deflecting Matthew Wood's shot at the crease for a 3-2 advantage. Michael Bunting extended the lead to 4-2 at 18:04 with a wrist shot from the left circle. Martin Necas pulled Colorado within one at 1:09 of the third, but Filip Forsberg restored the two-goal margin on a power-play goal at 15:13. Steven Stamkos added an empty-net goal at 17:04, and Michael McCarron scored a shorthanded empty-netter at 17:41 to seal the 7-3 final.
Supporting O'Reilly, Forsberg had a goal and two assists, Stamkos a goal and an assist, Roman Josi three assists, and Luke Evangelista two assists. Saros made 39 saves for the win. For Colorado, Nelson scored both goals, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 23 shots.
"There were no positives. There really weren’t," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "That was not even close to the standard of hockey that we want to play." Nashville associate coach Luke Richardson praised the team's maturity, noting improvements since their December 12 loss to Colorado.
This win boosts Nashville's confidence as they climb the standings, while Colorado must regroup after the disappointing performance.
