The Colorado Avalanche (11-6-1) travel to take on the Nashville Predators (9-9-2) at Bridgestone Arena on Friday. Colorado is coming off a 4-3 loss against the Canucks on Wednesday, ending a streak of three wins in a row. The Avalanche committed five penalties in the game, though they held Vancouver without a power play goal.
Mikko Rantanen was the top goalscorer for the Avalanche with two goals. had zero saves in the loss. Nashville is returning home for a four-game homestand after a 3-0 loss against the Red Wings on Wednesday. Kevin Lankinen had a great performance with 26 saves (.928%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Avalanche won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-3 victory on November 10, their fifth straight win against Nashville. Rantanen led Colorado with three points (2G 1A). Ryan Johansen, Roman Josi, and Eeli Tolvanen were on the scoresheet for Nashville. Alexandar Georgiev got the win, saving 32 of 35 shots (.914%).
FACING OFF
Colorado is averaging 3.44 goals per game for the season, ninth in the NHL, and they are taking on a Predators team that is allowing 3.20 goals a game (16th).
Meanwhile, Nashville has found the net 2.55 times a game on average, 29th in the league, and won’t find goals any easier to come by against the Avalanche’s stout defense, which is holding opponents to 2.56 goals per game (4th).
The Avalanche’s 34.38% power play percentage is the best in the league, while the Predators rank 27th with a conversion rate of 16.46%. In terms of defending power plays, Nashville has the league’s 12th-ranked PK% at 80.56%, while Colorado is 21st at 76.67%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Rantanen (28 points), Nathan MacKinnon (27), and Cale Makar (21) have been the top skaters this season for the Avalanche. Rantanen and MacKinnon are the ninth- and 10th-leading point scorers in the NHL.
Rantanen is among the league leaders with his 13 goals (8th), while MacKinnon leads the league with 22 assists. Makar has been another top player for Colorado, scoring six and assisting 15. In the net, Georgiev (9-2-1) is Colorado’s top goaltender.
He has a 2.40 GAA and a .929% save percentage, third-best in the league. Filip Forsberg leads the Predators in scoring with 19 points. He has seven goals and 12 assists in 20 games. Juuse Saros (7-6-2) is the top goalie for Nashville with a goals against average of 3.06. He has a save percentage of .905%.
HOME AND AWAY
Colorado has won four straight away from Ball Arena this season. Nashville is 6-3-2 at Bridgestone Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Colorado Avalanche -1.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
