NHL

Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators: Avalanche Extend Win Streak to Five

On Tuesday night, the Colorado Avalanche and the Nashville Predators met for the second time this season. The matchup between the two teams is quickly becoming a hard-hitting, bitter rivalry. Before the victory on Tuesday, the Avalanche hadn’t won a regular-season game in “Smashville” in 11 games, so they were due for a victory. Nathan MacKinnon notched two goals and has scored points in five straight games (5 G, 6 A), Semyon Varlamov made 36 saves and the Colorado Avalanche have now won five straight road games, along with five games in a row.

Teams Trade Goals in the First

The scoring started off at 11:07 of the first period by Nashville’s Ryan Hartman. More or less a fluky goal, Hartman fired a wrist shot from the left point, that re-directed off of Avalanche defender Samuel Girard’s skate, past a surprised Varlamov. The lead only lasted for 2:03 for the Predators. Nathan Mackinnon scored a power-play goal, where he was assisted by Mikko Rantanen and Samuel Girard. Rantanen now leads the league in scoring, with 40 points (10 G, 30 A). MacKinnon trails his “Rocky Mountain Line” mate with 37 points (17 G, 20 A).

Rocky Mountain Line

MacKinnon would bury another wrister past Predators goalie, Pekka Rinne, at 6:22 of the second period. Once again, his “Rocky Mountain Line” mate, Mikko Rantanen, found MacK in the high slot, who skated toward the right side of the net and fired a wrister low and to the far side of the net. A very, “Nathan Mackinnon” like goal, indeed.

”I was going to cut to the middle, I was just waiting for him to see me,” MacKinnon said of Rantanen. ”He’s going to find me if I’m open.”

Kevin Fiala would tie the game three minutes later at 9:06. From above the left circle, Filip Forsberg sent a pass to Fiala skating through the slot, and he was able to redirect the puck by Varlamov on the glove side just underneath the crossbar.

Special Teams Were the Difference

The third period would see both teams trading defensive prowess. In the end, the deciding goal would come down to a power-play goal by the Avalanche. Colorado is 11 for 22 on the power play in its last six games. Tyson Jost slid a wrist shot past a screened Rinne at 5:07 for a 3-2 advantage, and the final tally.  Varlamov made 20 saves alone in the third period. Rinne would finish with 22 saves. After not allowing a power-play goal in five consecutive games, the Predators have given up three in their last two games. They also fall to 13-1-0 on the season when scoring first.

Up Next

The Avs come home to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on a brutal back-to-back on Wednesday night at “The Can,” also known as the Pepsi Center. They will look to continue their winning ways and march towards first place in a tightly contested Central Division. Look for Philip Grubauer to get the start tonight for the Avs. If the Rocky Mountain Line shows up and notches points, while also dominating on the power-play, the win streak will continue to 6. The Predators will lick their wounds tonight and look to rebound against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night in Nashville.

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Photo Credit

Photo courtesy of Matthew Stockman/Getty Images