Avalanche take 3-0 series lead over Preds with 7-3 win

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The Colorado Avalanche lost goalie Darcy Kuemper late in the first period. Their power play is so strong right now that's all they lost.

Gabriel Landeskog scored twice in the second period, and the top-seeded Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 7-3 Saturday for a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference series.

Landeskog also had two assists. Nazem Kadri and Devon Toews each added a goal and an assist, and Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan MacKinnon scored a power-play goal apiece as Colorado went 4 for 5 on the man advantage to push Nashville to the brink of elimination. Cale Makar had three assists.

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Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) is congratulated after scoring his third goal of the game during the second period in Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Nashville Predators Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

"I’ve liked our power play a lot in this series, and tonight we just converted on our chances," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. "Sometimes it’s as simple as that."

Valeri Nichushkin added an empty-net goal with 2:46 left. The Avs had a couple missed opportunities once Nashville pulled goalie Connor Ingram with more than 4 minutes remaining.

Avalanche goalie Darcy Kuemper was hurt with a minute left in the first period. Pavel Francouz replaced him and made 18 saves in his seventh career playoff appearance. Francouz didn't see what happened to Kuemper, only that his teammate was in a lot of pain and he was going in immediately.

Bednar said Kuemper took a stick to the eye, leaving him