Predators Steal One in Denver, 3-2

Nashville walked into Ball Arena and left with two points, and the 3-2 final tells you everything about how tight this one was. Colorado had to be frustrated watching a one-goal margin slip away, because a two-goal game usually comes down to who makes the fewest mistakes late, and the Avalanche couldn't hold on to enough of their chances to put it away.

The Predators didn't need a blowout. They needed to be the team that stayed patient, kept the scoreboard close, and let the game come to them, and they did exactly that. Road games like this are where good teams separate themselves from the pack, and Nashville earned the win by refusing to panic when the pressure built.

For Colorado, it's a hard one to swallow. Losing at home by a single goal stings more than the standings show, and the Avalanche will want a closer look at how they handled the moments that mattered most. Close games are decided by small margins, and this one went Nashville's way.

Give the Predators credit. They took a hard-fought road win, and in a league where every point matters, nobody is going to complain about a result like that. Colorado will get another chance soon enough to answer back.