Nashville Predators prepared for winter storm as Colorado visits
It may be cold outside, but there will be a battle inside Bridgestone Arena. The Nashville Predators look to continue their dominance of the Avalanche.
Fifteen out of seventeen. That is 88%. Most of us would smile with such a success rate on any activity, especially that calculus test we barely studied for in high school. Still, there is a feeling we could do a bit better. Such is the current state of the Nashville Predators against the Colorado Avalanche.
That 15 out of 17 stat? The Nashville Predators have won 15 of their last 17 games against Colorado. The only two losses came during the playoffs last season. But, keeping the streak going will be a challenge. The Avalanche have improved greatly over the last two seasons.
The Avs’ top line of Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog are leading their team into new waters. Currently, Colorado sits at 30 points, just five behind the NHL leading Predators. Rantanen leads the league in scoring, with 38 points. MacKinnon is second with 35. In their last four games, the trio has 24 points, leading to a four-game win streak. To say they are on a roll would be an understatement.
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Now the Avs are getting help from the rest of their roster. Former Predators Colin Wilson and Vladislav Kamenev scored versus the Kings last week. J.T. Compher has two short-handed goals against the Coyotes. He also notched a tally last time out against the Stars.
Three of the four wins did come on the road, and Colorado is 8-4-2 away from home on the season. But, three of those wins also came against lesser opponents. The Predators are not in the same category.
Nashville, by all accounts, are the best team in the NHL. Not only do they lead the league in points, but they have also allowed the fewest total goals on the season. Only the Boston Bruins (39) have allowed fewer goals at 5v5 than the Predators (41). And, the Predators’ special teams have improved. The penalty kill is now the seventh best in the league, killing off 82.05% of chances. The power play, while still 29th overall, has scored goals in four of their last five games.
The major concern for Nashville is the health of their team. Kyle Turris was added to the injured reserved list, joining Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban. With Colorado’s top line being as potent as they are currently, the Nashville roster will have to step up their game across the board in order to limit the damage.
Oddsharks predicts Colorado will win, with a score close to 3-2. However, Nashville is listed as the overall favorite with -150 odds. It is just another sign of how tight the rivalry is becoming.
Lineup
Coach Peter Laviolette looks to put Austin Watson back with Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg tonight in order to keep other lines balanced. Nick Bonino‘s line has been seeing time against opponents’ top lines throughout the season and been successful doing it. Pekka Rinne should get the start in net tonight. Here is the lineup.
Forwards
Filip Forsberg – Ryan Johansen – Austin Watson
Kevin Fiala – Calle Jarnkrok – Craig Smith
Colton Sissons – Nick Bonino – Ryan Hartman
Zac Rinaldo – Frederick Gaudreau – Miikka Salomaki
Defense
Goaltenders
Pekka Rinne
Kevin Fiala's time is running short. dark. Next
Where to watch
The game tonight from Bridgestone Arena will broadcast on Fox Sport Tennessee with puck drop just after 7:00 P.M. Central. Fans can stream the game on the Fox Sports Go app or listen to the call from Pete Weber and Hal Gill on 102.5 The Game.