Bo Byram’s return sparks Avalanche in victory over Nashville Predators

The Avalanche, led by Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick, got back to winning on Saturday night, and the return of rookie defenseman Bo Byram certainly helped.

Byram, who missed the previous six games while overcoming at least his third concussion of 2021, logged 22:00 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in Colorado’s 6-2 victory over the Nashville Predators at Ball Arena.

Byram, 20, said he’s felt great for more than a week. “I’m happy I took the time. I feel great now. So that’s all that matters,” he said postgame.

Rantanen had three goals and four points and defensemen Cale Makar had three assists for the Avalanche, which improved to 7-1 with star center Nathan MacKinnon. Rantanen had two first-period power-play goals before completing his hat trick late in the third period. It was his third career hat trick.

Backup goalie Jonas Johansson got the start and the win to conclude a consecutive-night set. His most acrobatic save came midway through the second period when Nick Cousins’ shot slipped past him and the puck was rolling to the goal line before Johansson swiped it into the corner.

Colorado (11-6-1), which saw its six-game winning streak end in a 3-1 loss at Dallas on Friday, extended its winning streak to five games at home, where it is 6-0-1 in its last eight. The Avs are 23-2-2 in their last 27 home games at Ball Arena dating to March 10.

“I was disappointed in last night’s game and I think (the players) were disappointed because we just weren’t quite ready to go at the start of the game,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said. “Well, tonight we had a great start. I loved our start. Right away, on our toes, making them work through five guys all over the rink. We were physical, getting to the net, our possession game was great, good puck decisions for the most part. We got two power-play goals, the penalty kill was outstanding, and we wore them down. We just kind of stuck with and eventually got the floodgates to open.”

Following a chippy second period in which Colorado captain Gabe Landeskog was assessed 17 minutes worth of penalties at 17:53 stemming from a one-sided fight with Preds defenseman Mattias Ekholm, the Avs took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission. The teams traded goals in the middle frame, with Luke Kunin scoring at 4:44 to cut the Preds’ 2-0 deficit in half, and Byram regaining the two-goal advantage at 6:19.

Byram, using his offensive instincts from the back end, pinched in from the weakside wing when Landeskog controlled the puck down the right boards. Byram called for the puck from the top of the crease and Landeskog back-handed it to him — a perfect pass that only required Byram to tap it in.

The Preds, who also played on Friday when they defeated New Jersey 4-1 in Nashville, took all three penalties in the first period and Colorado made them pay. Rantanen struck at 4:41 and 17:37. From behind the goal line, he banked the puck off goalie David Rittich for the first one and one-timed a Makar feed for the second.

Valeri Nichushkin scored the Avs’ fourth goal early in the third period off a spectacular assist by Rantanen, and Tyson Jost struck late as the Avalanche reached five goals for the fifth time this season.

“We’ll go to the road with high confidence,”

Footnotes. Defenseman Ryan Murray was injured 11 seconds into his first shift and did not return. Bednar said he has a lower-body injury. … To make room for Byram, veteran defenseman Jack Johnson was Colorado’s only scratch. Forward Kiefer Sherwood, who played at Dallas, was reassigned to the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. … Avs center Nazem Kadri assisted on Rantanen’s second goal to give him points in 11 of his last 12 games. He saw his career-high 10-game points streak end Friday. … The Avs will have Sunday off and resume practice Monday. They’ll depart for Toronto on Tuesday, beginning a five-game trip against the Maple Leafs on Wednesday night. They will complete another consecutive-night stretch Thursday at Montreal and visit Ottawa on Saturday.