Viktor Arvidsson, James Neal and P.K. Subban also scored for Nashville, which ended a two-game losing streak.
Matt Duchene scored twice and Nathan MacKinnon also scored for Colorado, which has lost six in a row.
At the tail end of 2-minute 5-on-3 advantage, Josi took a pass from Ryan Johansen at the top of the left faceoff circle and dropped to one knee as he fired a tiebreaking one-timer by goaltender Semyon Varlamov.
Nashville was awarded the prolonged two-man advantage when both Francois Beauchemin and Cody Goloubef were whistled for minor penalties at 19:17 of the second.
Pekka Rinne made 25 saves for Nashville, none more important than the stellar glove stop he made on Mikko Rantanen with 9:08 remaining in the third with Colorado on a power play and Nashville clinging to a one-goal lead.
Arvidsson scored the game’s first goal at 10:08 of the opening period.
Arvidsson blocked a shot attempt by Goloubef at the right point and went the other way on a breakaway. Carrying the puck down the center of the ice, Arvidsson fired a wrist shot from the low slot that beat Varlamov on the stick side.
Varlamov finished with 28 saves.
MacKinnon tied it two minutes later.
Rene Bourque forced a turnover by Nashville’s Calle Jarnkrok below the goal line and found MacKinnon unchecked in front of the Nashville goal, where he beat Rinne low to the glove side.
Nashville regained the lead with 1:34 in the first on Neal’s 11th.
Colin Wilson found Neal in the lower part of the right circle. From the tough angle, Neal lifted the puck over Varlamov’s shoulder and under the crossbar on the near side.
Duchene scored a pair of power-play goals in the second period, the first coming at 3:46 to tie it at 2 and again at 13:56 to tie it at 3.
Entering Tuesday, the slumping Avalanche had scored just one goal on the man-advantage in their last six games.
Nashville killed 1:33 of power-play time at the end of the third after Johansen was whistled for high sticking at 18:27. Colorado pulled Varlamov for an extra attacker, giving them a 6-on-4 advantage. Rinne made two saves as time expired to preserve the victory.
NOTES: Boston Red Sox outfielder and Nashville native Mookie Betts attended the game. … Neal returned to the Nashville lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury. … Nashville has won all three meetings with the Avalanche this season. … Duchene has three two-goal games this season.
Avalanche: At Boston on Thursday night.
Predators: Travel to Dallas Thursday night.
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