January 8, 2004

At the exact midpoint of 2003-04 season, the Nashville Predators won a statement game against one of the top teams in the Western Conference, overcoming an early two-goal deficit to beat the Colorado Avalanche, 4-3, at the Sommet Center. Defenseman Jason York provided the sudden-death heroics, while goaltender Chris Mason recorded his first NHL victory stopping 31 shots.

Mason started only because goalie Tomas Vokoun came down with the flu after starting the team’s previous 21 games. He faced a Colorado team that had won four straight and five of its last seven and came in as the NHL's best road team.

The Avs tied the game with just 15 seconds left in regulation, setting up York’s tally 1:12 into overtime.

``I thought it was going to slip away,'' Mason said. ``I was unbelievably nervous. They have an All-Star team.''

The victory was the beginning of something special, as the Predators went 8-2-2 in the next 12 games, positioning themselves for the first playoff berth in franchise history.