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Nashville Predators: Power Ranking the Central Division Goaltenders

By Chad Minton

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 3: Fans cheer Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators as he leaves the ice following a 1-0 shutout win against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena on November 3, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 3: Fans cheer Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators as he leaves the ice following a 1-0 shutout win against the Boston Bruins at Bridgestone Arena on November 3, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JANUARY 21: Goaltender Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche skates prior to the game against the Nashville Predators at the Pepsi Center on January 21, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 4-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 21: Goaltender Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche skates prior to the game against the Nashville Predators at the Pepsi Center on January 21, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 4-1. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Colorado’s Achilles heel

As a team, Colorado is the biggest disappointment of the division. Maybe even the entire conference. Their top line remains lethal, but goaltending is letting them down. It’s a collective letdown between Philipp Grubauer and Semyon Varlamov.

Grubauer’s last start saw him give up five goals to Minnesota, and he’s given up 11 over his last two starts. The Avalanche can score with the best of them, but you’re not going very far in the playoffs with this kind of play they’re currently getting from their goaltenders. Grubauer does have occasional flashes of brilliance, but he’s wildly inconsistent.

Varlamov is the top choice in net, but he’s also seeing a decline this season. He still is fully capable of getting hot at the right time and making Colorado once again a dangerous team for the Predators, or anyone else in the Western Conference. He has three starts against the Predators in 2018-19, giving up eight goals over that span. He’s the guy Colorado will have to primarily lean on as they look to reverse this slide down the standings.

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