Neal Scores in Return as Preds Defeat Avalanche

Four different skaters found the back of the net as the Nashville Predators topped the Colorado Avalanche by a 4-3 final on Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena, their third win in three tries against the Avalanche this season.
After falling in consecutive home games over the weekend, the Preds found their groove once more and collected their ninth victory of the season on Broadway and improved their overall record to 12-9-4. In a game that saw plenty of action at both ends, Nashville found a way to get back in the win column, the 100th time Head Coach Peter Laviolette has done so behind the Predators bench.
"These are the wins we need," goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "We need to shut teams down at the end of the games. Even the last few seconds when we took a penalty, the team did a really good job. That was a good win and the last three games against Colorado have been good for us. These are big points for us."

He's Back:
After missing four games with an upper-body injury, Nashville's leading goal scorer returned to the lineup. Before the first period was out, he did what he does best.

James Neal snapped a shot over the shoulder of Semyon Varlamov for his 11th of the season and one of the prettier shots to come off the stick of a Preds player this season. But that's just another night at the office for No. 18.
"He doesn't need a lot of room, he doesn't need a lot of space and that's a perfect example of it," Laviolette said of Neal's goal. "What was really good about having James back, was it just provided a good balance in our lines and in the lineup and being able to roll them over. I thought his line was real good. [It] gave us a nice attack, and to have him be able to have a balance of offensive power on each line - every time you send somebody over the boards, there's a chance, and he just adds depth to that."
"It's a good feeling when you get back to playing with your teammates," Neal said. "It makes it a little easier when you're on home ice. It feels good to be back and good to win."
Part of the Puzzle:
It took Viktor Arvidsson 56 games to score eight goals last season. He recorded his eighth of the season on Tuesday against Colorado. It was his 25th outing of the campaign.

Arvidsson's tally came midway through the first period on a breakaway to get the goal scoring started on the night. The man with arguably the best celebrations on the team, Arvidsson continues to impress as the season rolls along, as does the chemistry up front throughout the Nashville lineup.

"[Arvidsson] was really good, but again I think it just goes into having that balance and that attack where you have contributions from all the lines," Laviolette said. "You're able to get all people involved in the offensive zone play, and that's a zone that we want to be in."
Anything You Can Do:
The Colorado Avalanche had an answer for Nashville's first three goals of the night, but Roman Josi had the last say. The defenseman took advantage of a 5-on-3 opportunity that carried over into the third period to give the Preds their fourth and final lead of the night.
Nashville did what they needed to do to be successful, complete with timely scoring, big saves from their netminder and one final penalty kill as time expired.

"Sometimes it's going to happen," Neal said of trading chances. "I think what makes our team good is that we can play in all different ways. Pekka made some big saves for us; he always does, especially at the end there when they were pressing."
"I thought we did a really good job in the third period," Laviolette said. "Tonight, we were able to get a lead, but they came back and that happened a few times; I think getting that power-play goal to start gave us a lead; I thought we did a good job - played a smart game, a strong game. Peks made big saves, and we need him to make them, but it was a good third period."

Notes:
Kevin Fiala earned his first NHL assist tonight.
P.K. Subban now has six goals in 13 home games this season. He had three goals in 33 home games last season.
Colin Wilson extended his point streak to a season-high three games. It's his longest since the 2014-15 season.
The Predators now get set to embark on a two-game trip, beginning on Thursday night in Dallas against the Stars. It's then on to Arizona on Saturday night before returning home next Tuesday to host St. Louis.