NHL: Nashville 4, Colorado 2

NASHVILLE, March 12 (UPI) -- Joel Ward netted a goal and an assist and Pekka Rinne made 36 saves Saturday in the Nashville Predators' 4-2 victory over Colorado.

Shea Weber and Matt Halischuk also scored, while Martin Erat added an assist and an empty-net goal for the Predators, who took their fourth straight from Colorado and stayed alive in the race for a Western Conference playoff berth.

Rinne blanked the Avalanche on three power plays and turned aside all 14 shots he saw in the first period while raising his record to 25-19-8.

Ryan O'Reilly and Daniel Winnick scored and Peter Budaj made 25 saves for Colorado.