P.A. Parenteau scores 2 goals in Avalanche's 3-1 victory over Predators 3-1

DENVER - Semyon Varlamov stopped 26 shots, P.A. Parenteau scored two goals the Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 3-1 on Friday night.

Patrick Bordeleau had a goal and rookie Nathan MacKinnon had an assist for the Avalanche, who have won their first two games under new coach Patrick Roy.

Pekka Rinne had 33 saves and Paul Gaustad scored for the Predators, who lost for the second time in as many nights.

The game featured two of the top four picks in last June's draft. MacKinnon was taken first overall and Seth Jones, a Denver native, was picked fourth by the Predators.

The Avalanche struck first for the second straight game. Jamie McGinn, who had two goals in Wednesday's win, gloved the puck in the slot and fired a shot on Rinne, who made the initial save.

Parenteau jumped on the rebound and knocked it in to give Colorado a 1-0 lead with 1:10 left in the first period.

Colorado made it 2-0 at 7:54 of the second with a goal from the fourth line. Bordeleau, the team's enforcer, tipped in a shot from the point by Nate Guenin for his third career goal.

Things got physical later in the period when Colorado winger Steve Downie left his skates to hit Predators defenceman Roman Josi. Shea Weber and Gabriel Bourque went after Downie before the officials broke it up.

Josi didn't play the rest of the game.

Nashville cut the lead in half with a goal at the end of a power play. Gaustad spun and used Avalanche defenceman Jan Hejda as a screen to beat Varlamov with 5:50 left in the second.

The Predators couldn't get the equalizer, but they got back at Downie when defenceman Victor Bartley checked him into the Nashville goal at the end of a play midway through the third.

Parenteau put the game away with an empty-net goal with 1:12 left.

NOTES: Avalanche C Gabriel Landeskog (leg) was scratched. He is day to day. ... Rinne is 11-3-1 against Colorado in his career. ... Nashville C Filip Forsberg was scratched with a lower body injury.