The Nashville Predators (5-7-1) head to face the Colorado Avalanche (6-4-1) at Ball Arena on Thursday. Nashville is coming off a 5-1 loss against the Kraken on Tuesday. The Predators committed only one penalty in the game, holding Seattle without a power play goal.
Filip Forsberg was the only player to find the net for the Predators. Juuse Saros saved only two of six shots against (.333%) after starting in the loss. Colorado is returning home for a four-game homestand after a 5-1 win over the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Five players found the net for the Avalanche. Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon both had three assists to lead the team in scoring. Alexandar Georgiev saved 31 of 32 shots in the win (.968%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams last met in the first round of last season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs when the Avalanche secured their place in the second round with a 5-3 win (4-0 series), their fourth straight win against Nashville.
FACING OFF
Nashville is averaging 2.62 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Avalanche team that is allowing 2.82 goals a game (9th). Meanwhile, Colorado has found the net 3.55 times a game on average, ninth in the league, and the Predators are allowing opponents to score 3.38 goals per game (22nd).
The Avalanche’s 38.24% power play percentage is the best in the league, while the Predators rank 29th with a conversion rate of only 14.00%. While efficient on the power play, Colorado has been less successful at penalty killing, as the hosts own the league’s third-lowest PK% at 69.23%. Nashville’s 82.98% ranks seventh in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 13 points this season, Forsberg is the top skater for the Predators. He has five goals and eight assists in 13 games. In the net, Saros (3-5-1) is Nashville’s top goaltender. He has a 3.12 GAA and a .904% save percentage.
MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in scoring with 19 points (6th in the league). He has three goals and 16 assists (2nd). Georgiev (6-1-1) has the best goals against average for Colorado at 2.61. He has a save percentage of .925%.
HOME AND AWAY
Nashville is 3-4-0 on the road this season. Colorado is 2-1-1 at Ball Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (+125)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
