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Johansen picks up two points in first game with Nashville, but Preds still fall to Avs

DENVER (AP) Tyson Barrie put Colorado ahead midway through the third period and the Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 5-3 on Friday night.

Ryan Johansen had a goal and an assist in his first game with the Predators since they traded for him Wednesday.

Barrie beat goalie Pekka Rinne with a shot from the top of the slot with 9 minutes left. It was his third goal in three games.

Jarome Iginla, Cody McLeod, Gabriel Landeskog and Jack Skille also scored and Semyon Varlamov made 19 saves to help Colorado tie Nashville in the Western Conference standings with 45 points. The Predators have played one fewer game.

Ryan Ellis and Filip Forsberg also scored for Nashville and Rinne made 22 saves.

Nashville sent defenseman Seth Jones to Columbus for Johansen. The young center was put in the middle of the first line with James Neal and Colin Wilson, giving the Predators some firepower atop the lineup.

Johansen came through with two points but Nashville lost for the fifth time in its last seven games.

Nashville pulled Rinne with 2:02 left and the Predators swarmed Varlamov but Skille sealed it with a goal into the empty net with 2 seconds left.

Johansen made an immediate impact when he scored a power-play goal on his first shot. His seventh of the season gave Nashville a 1-0 lead 2:35 into the game.

He also assisted on Forsberg’s goal late in the second that tied the game at 3.

Colorado took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission on a late goals by Iginla and McLeod, but Nashville tied it 2:45 into the second on Ellis’ goal.

Landeskog made it 3-2 with his 10th of the season at 7:40. It was his second straight game with a goal.

NOTES: Iginla’s goal was No. 601 and tied him with Jari Kurri for 18th all-time. ... Colorado D Erik Johnson (knee) is expected to miss at least one more week. He was injured in Monday’s win over Los Angeles. ... Nashville D Anthony Bitetto was in the lineup for the first time since Oct. 28. ... Avalanche D Brandon Gormley cleared waivers but has yet to be assigned to San Antonio of the AHL.