Avs’ Kadri downs Blues with :0.1 left

Nazem Kadri scored a buzzer-beating power-play goal to give the Avalanche a 2-1 comeback victory over the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues in Western Conference round-robin play Sunday.

Kadri’s shot crossed the goal line with 0.1 seconds on the clock. The NHL reviewed the play for several minutes before calling it a good goal.

By winning the game, held at an empty Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Colorado took the lead in the seeding race among the top four teams in the West.

The frenzied finish made up for an uneven first 55 minutes or so. In the final two, Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo went off slowly after taking a shot off the side of his right knee, teammate Alex Steen took a penalty and the Avalanche put goaltender Jordan Binnington and the Blues’ penalty kill under siege.

It finished with Kadri’s goal that ruined a stellar 36-save performance by Binnington.

Coyotes 4, Predators 3

Oliver Ekman-Larsson scored the first of Arizona’s three first-period goals, a healthy Phil Kessel had two assists and the Coyotes held on to beat the Predators 4-3 to open their Western Conference qualifier series in Edmonton.

The Coyotes made the most of their first postseason appearance since 2012, scoring three goals in the first period on their way to building a 4-1 lead. Darcy Kuemper, who stopped 40 shots, held off Nashville’s late push.

This and that

The status of Jets forwards Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine is unknown for Game 2 of their Western Conference qualifier against the Flames. Neither took part in practice.

† The Lightning figure to have defenseman Victor Hedman but not forward Steven Stamkos when they play their first round-robin game Monday against the Capitals.

† Former Blackhawks goalie Robin Lehner will start for the Golden Knights in their first game of round-robin play Monday against the Stars.