NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A great effort didn't lead to a winning result for the Avalanche in Game 1 of its first Stanley Cup playoff series in four years Thursday. The President's Trophy-winning Nashville Predators scored on their first power play and Filip Forsberg broke a 2-2 tie early in the third period as the Preds won 5-2 at Bridgestone Arena to take a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series.

Forsberg beat goalie Jonathan Bernier twice in the third period, the latter giving Nashville some insurance with 7:50 remaining in regulation. An empty-net goal with 1:57 left by Colton Sissons capped the scoring.

Underdog Colorado led 1-0 and 2-1 and played as good as anyone could expect. But behind a raucous sellout crowd looking for a second consecutive run to the Stanley Cup Final, the Preds wore the Avs down, with Forsberg leading the way.

Forsberg gave the Predators their first lead 6:08 into the third, off a rolling puck from the point. Defenseman Roman Josi put a knuckleball near the net and Forsberg, who was in front of the right post, had the puck carom in the net off his stick or leg.

Forsberg made it 4-2 by beating rookie defenseman Sam Girard — who started the season as a Pred — with a terrific individual effort to the net.

The Preds tied it 1-1 early in the second period, shortly after defenseman Matt Irwin prevented Colorado from going ahead 2-0 with a goal-line stick save behind goalie Pekka Rinne. A shot by J.T. Compher rolled off Rinne's back and landed in the crease — inches from the goal line. Irwin swatted it out of danger and the Preds went the other way — leading to Austin Watson's goal with a high wrist shot over Bernier's shoulder.

But it didn't remain 1-1 for long. At 4:51, Blake Comeau skated in front of a Carl Soderberg wrist shot and deflected it enough to fool Rinne, and less than two minutes after Watson's goal the Avs were back up by one.

But Nashville quickly responded. Avs star center Nathan MacKinnon was whistled for slashing at 8:40 — it was Colorado's first penalty — and Preds forward Craig Smith made him pay 10 seconds later. Nashville took advantage of a failed Avalanche clear and Smith beat Bernier with a high shot from the doorstep.

The Avs' Mikko Rantanen had a glorious chance to get the visitors back on top shortly after Smith's goal, but Rinne made a terrific pad save on his breakaway.

Defenseman Nikita Zadorov gave Colorado a 1-0 lead 6:36 into the game. MacKinnon and Rantanen played give-and-go through the neutral zone before Rantanen pulled up and dished back to Zadorov, who beat Rinne with a wicked wrister inside the near post.

It was a good sign for Colorado to get MacKinnon and Rantanen — the Avs' two best forwards — on the scoresheet so quickly in the series.

Game 2 is at 1 p.m. Saturday.