Nathan MacKinnon calls it confidence and swagger, the vital ingredients in winning games or at least forcing overtime. It reminds the Avalanche center of his rookie season, when points piled up from late-game rallies.

MacKinnon pointed to Wednesday’s overtime victory over St. Louis and the Dec. 31 overtime loss to Chicago as key examples of Colorado’s return to how it played valiantly in 2013-14.

“We were down against Chicago and forced OT. (Wednesday) we were down 3-1 and won in OT. It feels like two years ago a little bit, my first year when we won games late, closed them out, and had more confidence and swagger for sure,” MacKinnon said Thursday. “When you lose games, you’re focusing on not losing, and right now we’re focusing on winning and taking control. It’s a different feel. It’s refreshing. When you have confidence and a little bit of swagger, you’re going to win hockey games.”

Since Christmas, the Avs have collected a point in five of six games. They have played into overtime three times during that stretch, after doing so just twice in their first 35 games. Reaching overtime is vital, and the only reason Central Division rival Nashville owns a wild-card playoff spot over the Avs.

The Predators (19 wins) have seven OT or shootout losses. Colorado (20 wins) has fallen three times in OT. The Avs host the Preds on Friday night in another key divisional game. With a regulation win, Colorado will tie Nashville with 45 points.

“It will be a fun game for us and a fun game for our fans as well,” Avs coach Patrick Roy said Thursday. “When you look back 15 games ago, we were at least 10 points behind these guys, maybe more. But we’re two now. It’s an important game for us.”

The Avs are 20-18-3 at the midpoint of the season and thinking they’re on track to have a better second half.

“We all know that after (Friday), no matter who wins or loses that game, we’re going to have another 40 to play and a lot of work to be done,” Roy said. “But in the season, there are a lot of key moments. I thought the (3-0) trip in Nashville, St. Louis and Chicago was one of the key moments in our season.

“Now, beating L.A. at home and beating St. Louis after coming back late in that game, winning in overtime, these are key games that we can build on and certainly be a more confident team.”

Nashville is minus-2 in goals differential but improved its offense Wednesday by trading defenseman Seth Jones, 21, to Columbus for center Ryan Johansen, 23.

“If I’m Nashville, that’s a heck of a player to add to your lineup,” Avs winger Matt Duchene said of Johansen. “Unfortunately for us, they got better up front. Their back end is already so good, even without Jones.”

Defenseman Roman Josi is Nashville’s leading scorer, and blue-line partner Shea Weber is tied for second.

“Weber and Josi, they’re so dominant, and they have one of the best goalies in the league,” Duchene said. “It’s a huge game for us, one that we can get back into the playoff picture.”

Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers

NASHVILLE AT COLORADO 7 p.m. Friday, ALT; 104.3 FM

Spotlight on Ryan Johansen:

He will make his Predators debut after being acquired from Columbus in a trade for defenseman Seth Jones on Wednesday. Johansen, 23, and Jones, 21, were the No. 4 selections in the 2010 and 2013 drafts, respectively. Johansen, who has 193 career points, is the fourth-highest scorer from his draft class — behind Tyler Seguin (332), Taylor Hall (304) and Jeff Skinner (237). Johansen amassed 33 and 26 goals the past two seasons but had just six in 38 games for the Blue Jackets.

NOTEBOOK

Predators:

They lost 4-1 at home Tuesday to Winnipeg, despite outshooting the Jets 44-18. Nashville is 1-4 when producing 40 shots. … The Preds have three 2016 all-stars in defensemen Shea Weber and Roman Josi and goalie Pekka Rinne. … Nashville is 4-4-2 in its last 10 games, and 7-8-4 on the road. … Newcomer Johansen centered James Neal and Colin Wilson at practice Thursday.

Avalanche:

Goalie Semyon Varlamov will start in net. … As defensemen Erik Johnson and Brad Stuart near their return from the injured list, and on the heels of waiver pickup Andrew Bodnarchuk, blue- liner Brandon Gormley was placed on waivers Thursday. If he is not claimed, he will report to San Antonio of the American Hockey League. … Colorado is 8-2-1 against Central Division foes.

Mike Chambers, The Denver Post