Predators 3, Avalanche 0: Pekka Rinne recorded his 35th career shutout and rookie Filip Forsberg scored early in the first period as visiting Nashville skated to its sixth win in eight games.

Rinne finished with 26 saves and Gabriel Bourque registered an empty-net goal and an assist for his first points for the Predators, who won despite failing to convert on any of their six power-play opportunities. James Neal also tallied into an empty net and Forsberg added an assist.

Calvin Pickard turned aside 33 shots while beginning his third stint of the season with the Avalanche, who have dropped four in a row (0-3-1). Pickard's stay could be longer this time around as fellow goaltender Semyon Varlamov is expected to be sidelined at least two weeks after aggravating a groin injury during Monday's practice.

Rinne registered his league-leading 18th victory and preserved his third shutout of the season by stopping 10 shots in the third period. Bourque and Neal capped the scoring 52 seconds apart late in the third.

Bourque banked a pass off the right-wing boards to Forsberg, who skated in on a breakaway and beat Pickard over the left shoulder 2:23 into the contest to open the scoring. The tally was the second in three games for the 20-year-old Swede.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Colorado RW Borna Rendulic became the first Croatian-born and trained player to appear in an NHL game after he was recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League earlier in the day. The 22-year-old recorded one shot on goal in 7:47 of ice time. ... Nashville C Paul Gaustad suffered a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return. He had missed his team's previous two contests with the same ailment. ... The Avalanche won 38-of-62 faceoffs, with C Matt Duchene claiming 10-of-12 draws.