DENVER (AP) - Peter Budaj posted his sixth career shutout and Darcy Tucker scored his 200th NHL goal, as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 1-0 on Saturday night to end a five-game losing streak.
Budaj made 26 saves for his first shutout since beating Boston 2-0 on March 6, 2007.
Tucker's goal came after T.J. Hensick picked up the puck at the blue line and skated into the Nashville zone down the right side. Hensick sent a pass to the front of the net that slid under Nashville center Scott Nichols' stick right to Tucker, who backhanded the puck past goalie Dan Ellis with 4:21 left in the second period.
Just 24 seconds earlier, Vernon Fiddler came into the Avalanche zone ahead of the defense, but Budaj made a right pad save to keep Nashville off the scoreboard.
Midway through the third period, Budaj made two big saves on Shea Weber during one of the Predators' seven power plays.
Ellis made 19 saves for the Predators, who have lost three straight and are 1-6-1 on the road.
The Avalanche had two good chances to get on the board earlier in the game. Late in the first period, Ian Laperriere took a feed from Ben Guite in front and faked Ellis to the ice, but then sent a shot through the crease that hit the far-side post.
With 14:01 left in the second period and Colorado on its fourth power play, Marek Svatos hit the left post with a rebound shot. Ellis covered that loose puck before Wojtek Wolski could knock it in.
Neither team generated much offense early. Nashville held a 10-9 shot advantage through the first 30 minutes.
Notes: Avalanche C Joe Sakic left after the first period with a back injury. Sakic missed Thursday's game due to the injury that was sustained in practice the previous day. ... Colorado F Cody McCormick was excused from the team for personal reasons. ... The teams combined to go 0-for-16 on the power play. ... Nashville is 1-6 when trailing after two periods.
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