On January 16, 2026, the Nashville Predators secured a 7-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, marking the latter's first home regulation loss of the season. Ryan O'Reilly showcased his prowess, scoring three goals and assisting on another, achieving his seventh career hat trick. This was O'Reilly's first hat trick since January 4, 2025, against the Calgary Flames, and his second against his former team, the Avalanche. O'Reilly's performance was particularly notable as he spent his first six seasons with the Avalanche before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres before the 2015-16 campaign.
Nashville's Filip Forsberg contributed a goal and two assists, while Juuse Saros demonstrated his goalkeeping skills with 39 saves. The Predators' Brock Nelson and Martin Necas also found the back of the net, with Nelson scoring twice and Necas once. Mackenzie Blackwood, returning to the lineup for Colorado, made 23 saves but couldn't prevent the Avalanche from losing their second consecutive home game, where they hold a strong record of 19-1-3.
The game commenced with O'Reilly's early goal, followed by his second when he deftly deflected the puck off the stick of Colorado defenseman Sam Girard. Nelson responded with two goals, including a rebound and a deflection. Nelson's exceptional form continued, with 14 goals in his last 16 games and 24 this season.
Saros' 15 saves in the second period helped Nashville take the lead, with O'Reilly and Michael Bunting extending the lead to 3-2 and 4-2, respectively. Necas narrowed the gap to one goal early in the third period, but Forsberg's power-play goal restored the two-goal lead. Steven Stamkos and Michael McCarron added empty-net goals, securing the Predators' victory.
Looking ahead, the Predators will face the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night, while the Avalanche will host the Washington Capitals on Monday afternoon.
