Predators claw their way to playoff berth with 4-2 win over Avs

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In Denver Friday, the visiting Nashville Predators damaged the Colorado Avalanche’s push for the playoffs with a 4-2 decision.

In the process, the Preds also clinched a playoff berth, the first NHL team to do so this season.

Juuse Saros made 33 saves to pick up the win as the Predators improved to 47-14-10 and now have points in 14 straight games.

“It’s good, the guys worked really hard,” Predators head coach Peter Laviolette said. “Everything we did — the staff, the other coaches — certainly the players worked extremely hard to this point. It’s about getting in, about getting rounds at home ice. All of that helps you try to be successful when you get there.

“You take a little pride in that. The guys have battled hard all year to fight for the points, for whatever they might be, different reasons on different nights. The guys knew with a win tonight we would clinch, and I think they fought hard for it.”

Colton Sissons and Filip Forsberg struck for two goals apiece in the win.

“I’ve always prided myself on showing up when it matters most and being counted on as a reliable teammate,” Sissons said. “The bigger the stakes, you’ve got to raise your level. I was able to prove that last year in the playoffs a little bit and I’ve continued to build on that this season.”

Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon had the Avs goals as they saw a point-streak snapped at nine games.

The Avs dropped to 38-25-8 and had a chance to pull ahead of the Dallas Stars who were losing to the Ottawa Senators in overtime Friday.

“We’re a pretty deep team, lots of players coming in and out of the lineup making contributions, and the goaltending’s been unbelievable,” Forsberg said. “The defense has been good and guys put pucks in the back of the net.”

[WATCH: All Predators vs. Avalanche highlights]

Semyon Varlamov made 23 saves in taking the loss.

“Nashville’s a really good team, tough to play against, but I think we played strong, had a really good game,” Varlamov said. “We just didn’t score. We had a couple good chances at the end. We deserved at least one point.”