Joey Hishon scores 1st NHL goal, lifting Avalanche to 3-2 win over struggling Predators

Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19), of Sweden, is congratulated after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)

Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35), of Finland, watches as Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92), of Sweden, head for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)

DENVER – Joey Hishon broke a third-period tie with his first NHL goal, Semyon Varlamov stopped 40 shots and the Colorado Avalanche beat Nashville 3-2 on Tuesday night to send the Predators to their fourth straight loss.

Calle Jarnkrok and Ryan Ellis had scored for the Predators, who remain a point behind St. Louis for the Central Division title with two games remaining. The Blues lost to Winnipeg 1-0 earlier.

Jarome Iginla and Ryan O'Reilly had goals 9 seconds apart in the second period for Colorado, which was eliminated from the playoff chase last week.

Hishon, playing in his 11th game since being recalled from Lake Erie of the AHL, split two Nashville defenders and beat Pekka Rinne with a wrist shot at 7:06 of the final period.

The Predators pulled Rinne with about 1:35 remaining, but they couldn't get anything by Varlamov. Nashville dropped to 6-10-3 since Feb. 26.