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Saturday, Dec. 18 8:00pm ET
Krivokrasov's slump-stopping goal helps Preds | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Persistence paid off for Sergei Krivokrasov. After missing several earlier opportunities, Krivokrasov scored with 37.8 seconds left in the third period and the Nashville Predators salvaged a 2-2 tie with the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. It has been a disappointing season for Krivokrasov, who led Nashville with a career-high 25 goals a year ago but has just six in 30 games this season. He was a healthy scratch at Atlanta on Dec. 6. "It was big-time frustrating," Krivokrasov said of his scoring drought. "It's awful when you're trying to give your best efforts every shift and keep getting not rewarded." With Mike Dunham pulled for a sixth attacker, Krivokrasov connected at the left post after Greg Johnson's pass from the right side went by Avs goalie Marc Denis. "This is huge," Predators defenseman Drake Berehowsky said. "We've been playing pretty good hockey. The puck just hasn't bounced our way." Nashville is 0-4-2 in its last six games, while Colorado dropped to 0-2-1 in its last three. "It's frustrating when you blow a lead with 30 seconds left," Adam Deadmarsh said. "But they worked pretty hard tonight. It was just a matter of time." In the overtime, Denis stopped Karlis Skrastins on a two-on-one and then stopped Cliff Ronning later. Dunham made a key save on Sandis Ozolinsh. Shjon Podein put Colorado up 2-1 5:10 into the third period. He beat Dunham from between the circles with a high shot off Stephane Yelle's feed. "Shjon Podein and Eric Messier have been playing very well for us lately," Deadmarsh said. "They've been scoring some late goals." It was the fourth goal in Podein's last eight games. Messier assisted on both Avs goals. Johnson scored the opening goal at 5:24 of the first. His shot from the left wing bounced off Deadmarsh's leg past Denis. That marked the third straight game this week Nashville had scored first, but the Predators are winless (0-2-1) in those three matches. Adam Foote tied it 1-1 at 18:06 of the first with a snap wrister from the left circle. Foote pounced on a loose puck during a delayed penalty call against Nashville. Neither team scored in the second despite a combined five power plays. Joe Sakic missed his 11th straight game with injured ribs. Sakic, with 999 career points, has missed half of Colorado's 34 games. Peter Forsberg and Sakic have yet to play together in a game this season. "It's a long season. We'll get it back," Forsberg said of the tie. "Of course you feel bad when they score, but overall it's a step in the right direction." Nashville defenseman Kimmo Timonen, the club's No. 2 scorer, left the game with an abdominal strain. He is questionable for Sunday's game at Philadelphia. The game was the Predators' first home sellout since Dec. 4, and the raucous fans made a difference. "That crowd is unbelievable," the Avs' Chris Drury said. "In my opinion, it's got to be the closest thing to a college atmosphere." | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard Colorado Clubhouse Nashville Clubhouse  NHL West: Preds feeling growing pains
RECAPS Calgary 2 Ottawa 1
Colorado 2
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