Beginning yet another weekend back-to-back, the Colorado Avalanche hit the road in search of four points against Central Division foes. First up is the first of four meetings over the next eight weeks with the Nashville Predators.
Colorado Avalanche (14-1-5)
The Opponent: Nashville Predators (6-10-4)
Time: 6:00 p.m. MT
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Colorado Avalanche
Following a successful home stand in which the Avalanche won their seventh game in a row and swept their four opponents to become the fourth team
in NHL history to complete their first 20 games with only one regulation loss, the squad takes their show on the road in hopes of dominating another weekend set.
Almost all is right in the world of the burgundy and blue with the exception of a few injuries to some depth forwards and most notably Val Nichushkin. Despite the second unit cashing in the previous contest, the power play is still an eyesore but isn’t causing any losses so there’s room to tinker and hopefully find a solution.
Rookie forward Gavin Brindley couldn’t finish the previous game against the New York Rangers and Jason Polin was recalled from the Colorado Eagles prior to the Avalanche’s flight to Nashville. It’s a pretty safe assumption that Polin will join fellow recall Tristen Nielsen on the fourth line with Zakhar Bardakov.
Projected Lineup
Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas
Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Victor Olofsson
Gabe Landeskog – Jack Drury – Parker Kelly
Tristen Nielsen – Zakhar Bardakov – Jason Polin
Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Sam Girard – Sam Malinski
Nashville Predators
After participating in a Global Series pair of games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sweden last weekend where they earned a split, the Nashville Predators received nearly a week off and are back at it at home to face the formidable Avalanche.
Amid numerous trade rumors the Predators are plugging along hoping to improve after last season’s disastrous 68 point campaign and avoid the fire sale. Currently the Predators sit last in the Central Division with 16 points but a week out of action doesn’t help matters. Getting back on track against the Avalanche is a tough task, though.
Leading Nashville in scoring is Filip Forsberg with 15 points in 20 games. Ryan O’Reilly is enjoying a good start to the year upping his trade value with 13 points. Surprisingly, rookie forward Matthew Wood who was the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft is third in scoring with six goals and 10 points in 13 games. Luke Evangelista emerged from his contract standoff with Predators GM Barry Trotz as a top liner tied for fourth in team scoring with 10 points to round out the forward core. Old friend Tyson Jost could also make an appearance as he is on the roster after he was picked up on waivers from Carolina and has currently played 15 games for Nashville.
Still missing is captain Roman Josi out with an upper-body injury but he has resumed skating with the team at least. The squad could certainly use his return on the back end if they hope to climb out of the Central division basement.
Projected Lineup
Filip Forsberg – Ryan O’Reilly – Luke Evangelista
Steven Stamkos – Eric Haula – Jonathan Marchessault
Michael Bunting – Fedor Svechkov – Matthew Wood
Michael McCarron – Tyson Jost – Ozzie Weisblatt
Brady Skjei – Nick Perbix
Nicolas Hague – Nick Blankenburg
Spencer Stastney – Justin Barron
Goaltenders
Scott Wedgewood received the last two starts for Colorado and has been excellent in net but with the back-to-back surely he and Mackenzie Blackwood will split the starts this weekend. Which one going first should be revealed at morning skate.
In net it has been less than stellar for the Predators with the Finnish tandem of Juuse Saros and old friend Justus Annunen sporting save percentages under .900 with backup Annunen still in search for his first win on the season. Considering the time off it’s makes sense Saros will be in net to begin Nashville’s two-game home stand in game one against Colorado, which also happens to be Nashville’s Hockey Fights Cancer night.
