DENVER, April 1 (UPI) -- Rookie Riku Hahl scored his first NHL goal Monday night, sparking a three-goal second period that carried the Colorado Avalanche to a 5-1 victory over the free-falling Nashville Predators.
Recalled from Hershey of the American Hockey League earlier in the day, Hahl got the go-ahead tally 2:27 into the second period. After Scott Parker rang a shot off the right goalpost, Hahl outbattled fellow rookie Jordan Krestanovich for the rebound at the left side of the net and tapped it in.
The Avalanche, who have scored as many as three goals in just four of the last 17 games, opened a 4-1 lead as defenseman Martin Skoula and rookie Radim Vrbata tallied over the next six minutes.
Patrick Roy made 21 saves and Steven Reinprecht also scored for Colorado, which moved three points ahead of San Jose for the second seed in the Western Conference playoff race.
Defenseman Kimmo Timonen scored his ninth power-play goal for the Predators, whose latest winless streak reached five games (0-3-2).
