Avalanche 3, Predators 1

Michael Kelly, The Sports Xchange

DENVER -- Semyon Varlamov had 26 saves in another strong performance, P.A. Parenteau scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 3-1 on Friday night.

Patrick Bordeleau had a goal and rookie Nathan MacKinnon followed his solid NHL debut with another assist for the Avalanche.

Paul Gaustad had a goal and Pekke Rinne stopped 33 shots for the Predators, who dropped their second game in as many nights.

It was a homecoming for Nashville rookie Seth Jones, who was the fourth overall pick in the June amateur draft. Jones grew up in Denver and was considered a top prospect last year.

The return to his hometown had a sour start. He was on the ice when Parenteau gave Colorado a 1-0 lead late in the first period. Parenteau, who led Colorado in goals scored last season, knocked in Jamie McGinn's rebound with 1:10 left before intermission. Rinne made the initial save but Parenteau was on the crease when the puck bounced to him. It was his first goal of the young season.

Bordeleau made it 2-0 when he tipped in Nate Guein's shot from the point at 7:54 of the second period.

Minutes later, tempers flared when Avalanche forward Steve Downie left his feet to lay a hit on Nashville defenseman Roman Josi in the Predators corner. Shea Weber and Gabriel Bourque jumped on Downie before the officials broke it up. The Avalanche ended up with a power play when Weber was give four minutes for roughing, one of three penalties by the veteran defenseman.

Josi was lost for the rest of the game.

The Predators made it a 2-1 game with a goal just as their power play was expiring. Gaustad got the puck in the slot, spun and put a screened shot past Varlamov at 14:10 of the second period.

Nashville managed 10 shots in the third period and couldn't get the equalizer.

Parenteau sealed it with an empty-net goal with 1:12 remaining.

NOTES: Avalanche C Gabriel Landeskog (leg injury) was scratched from the lineup. Marc-Andre Cliche took his place and played on the fourth line. ... Friday was the second game of a back-to-back for the Predators. They have 14 scheduled this season. ... Avalanche coach Patrick Roy was fined $10,000 by the NHL for his actions at the end of Wednesday's win over Anaheim. Roy yelled at Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau and some of the Anaheim players and pushed the glass partition toward the Ducks' bench. Roy was assessed a game misconduct. ... Nashville C Filip Forsberg was scratched with a lower body injury.