The panic and questions surrounding an injury-riddled team just two weeks ago have suddenly dissipated. At least for now.

Colorado completed another come-from-behind victory Friday to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime at Bridgestone Arena. The Avalanche — sitting comfortably in a playoff spot entering the holiday break — trailed by two goals but used a late regulation tally to even the score before Samuel Girard recorded the overtime game-winner against the team that drafted him six years ago.

The Avs failed to score on all four power play opportunities, including one that started late in the third and dragged into the extra frame. Minutes after that kill, Colorado found itself on a two-on-one. The puck holder, Evan Rodrigues skated into the offensive zone and seemed to fool everyone, including the goalie, by electing to pass the puck to Girard for the one-timer rather than take the shot.

Girard’s second of the season was his first since returning from an injury 14 games ago.

Riding the high of another exciting victory is a far cry from where the team was 16 days earlier. Following injuries to Nathan MacKinnon, Josh Manson and Artturi Lehkonen in a three-day stretch, the Avs hosted the Boston Bruins in perhaps the most one-sided game in recent memory. The Bruins, sitting atop the NHL standings, were playing a team that looked less like the Avalanche and more like the AHL’s Colorado Eagles.

The Avalanche sat outside the playoff picture after that 4-0 loss as questions were asked about their health and ability to rebound. But that was quickly put to rest by the defending champs. Since then, Valeri Nichushkin, Kurtis MacDermid, Lehkonen and Rodrigues have all returned. The Avs fell 2-1 to the Rangers in a shootout two nights later before rattling off a 6-1-0 record since.

Currently ranked third in the Central Division, the Avalanche trail the top two seeds by six and three points, respectively, with multiple games in hand on both.

The injury bug did strike again. Colorado lost Nichushkin early in the third period, which was later announced on Altitude T.V. as a lower-body injury. It’s unclear at this time if Nichushkin’s injury is related to the one that kept him out of the lineup for 17 games early in the season. Forward Martin Kaut (upper body) also left the game early and did not return. There was a stretch in the third period where the Avs were down Nichushkin, Kaut, J.T. Compher and Brad Hunt. But the latter two both ended up returning.

Compher tallied the game-tying goal with 4:55 remaining to send the game to OT. When Colorado was trailing 2-0 in the second period, Mikko Rantanen scored his 23rd of the season to break the ice for the Avs, who have a 4-1 record in the five-minute OT period and 7-2 past regulation.

In goal, the Avs continued to ride their starter Alexandar Georgiev. He has started each of the last five games, surrendering just eight goals in the process. Georgiev made 37 saves against the Preds to earn his fourth straight victory where he’s allowed a combined four goals. Georgiev ranks fourth in the NHL in wins (15), ninth in games (23) and is tied for third in save percentage (.925).

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