Ryan O’Reilly scores twice as Predators dismantle Avalanche

Ryan O'Reilly scored twice, including the game-winner, and added two assists, leading the Nashville Predators to a 6-2 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Sunday night.

Steven Stamkos scored a pair and contributed a helper for the Predators, who avoided a third straight loss and won for just the second time in seven outings (2-2-3).

Filip Forsberg had a goal and added two assists, and Jack Drury also tallied while Roman Josi added three helpers.

Justus Annunen made 19 saves for his first win of the season.

Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews responded for Colorado, which has lost three of four and dropped to 2-4-0 on the road.

Martin Necas registered two assists, and Scott Wedgewood stopped 29 shots.

Nashville outshot Colorado 11-8 in the first period, jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes and never looked back.

Forsberg opened the scoring on the power play at 4:01 of the first, snapping a shot from the top of the slot, glove side past Wedgewood.

Nashville doubled its lead at 10:48 as Stamkos' shot barely crossed the goal line before Cale Makar cleared it. Video review ruled the puck crossed the goal line entirely, giving the Predators a 2-0 lead.

O'Reilly made it 3-0 on a power play at 6:38 of the middle frame, stickhandling around Wedgewood down low and beating the Avs starter with a backhander.

The Predators took a 4-0 lead at 16:36 of the second as Drury put a backhanded deke around Wedgewood.

O'Reilly added his second of the game on a power play, extending the Predators' lead to 5-0, putting home the loose puck after Jonathan Marchessault mishandled it at 17:29.

Colorado got on the board 26 seconds later as Lehkonen tapped in a cross-ice feed from Necas.

Toews cut the lead to 5-2, snapping a shot past a screened Annunen at 2:43 of the third.

Nashville took a 6-2 lead on a 5-on-3 power play as Stamkos put an O'Reilly feed past Wedgewood at 10:24 of the third.

--Field Level Media