(1C) Avalanche in (WC2) Predators
Western Conference First Round, Game 3
4:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN, TVAS, BSSO, ALT
Colorado leads best-of-7 series, 2-0
The Nashville Predators will return home to Bridgestone Arena for Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round on Saturday looking for their first victory against the Colorado Avalanche.
‘Definitely a big boost,’ defense josi roman saying. “The playoffs in Nashville are always so much fun. The crowd is going to be loud. So many great memories from Nashville in the playoffs. We’re excited to be home. We’re excited to play in front of our fans.”
The Predators lost the first two games in Denver by a combined 9-3, losing 7-2 in Game 1 on Tuesday and 2-1 in overtime in Game 2 on Thursday.
Coach John Hynes mentioned what happened in the first round last season. The Predators lost the first two road games against the Carolina Hurricanes by a combined score of 8–2, then won the next two at home (before losing the series in six).
Connor Ingramwho has stopped 79 of 83 shots since taking over david rittich in the first period of Game 1, he will start for the second straight game. goalkeeper no. 1 juuse saros remains out with a lower body injury.
Nashville needs more possession and offense from the puck. Colorado has controlled 66.7 percent of 5-on-5 shot attempts. Two of the three goals the Predators scored came in Game 1 after they fell 6-0.
The Avalanche won’t be put off by the atmosphere at Bridgestone Arena.
“I love playing in hostile buildings,” center nazem kadri saying. “I think it’s a lot of fun… It doesn’t matter where we play. I think we’re a pretty balanced group.”
Here are 3 keys to Game 3:
1. Be aggressive without the puck
The Predators must put more pressure on Avalanche to get the puck back.
“I think in general we’ve been drinking too much water and being too passive,” Josi said. “I think we have to be aggressive. Obviously, they are dangerous in the race. They are a skilled team.” [But] starts in the [offensive zone]be more aggressive and not let them loose so easily.
2. Be patient with the disc
The Predators can improve their poise and execution on breakaways, in the neutral zone and getting into the offensive zone.
“[The Avalanche are] fast and fast, and sometimes you feel like you don’t have as much time as you do,” Hynes said. “So, I think that’s an area where we can continue to improve to give ourselves a chance to get up. and go on the attack.
“Other times … we made some plays, but then we didn’t connect on the next play. It bounced off our stick, or it was a little bit of a missed pass. Our puck game is something that we tackle between [Games 1 and 2]. it was good sometimes [in Game 2]but it certainly needs to get better as we go.”
3. Stick with it
The avalanche does not need to change much. They generated 103 shot attempts in Game 2 and were ultimately rewarded when defenseman Cala Makarwho had 23 shot attempts, including 12 shots on goal, scored 8:31 into extra time.
“I think sometimes you can get too nervous,” coach Jared Bednar said. “You’re shooting a lot. A lot of people are getting blocked. The goalie is making saves. You could try to be too fancy and start passing more, and I don’t think that’s the solution. I think you just have to keep working for those shooting lanes and keep going. with that”.
Avalanche Projected Lineup
Valeri Nichushkin — Nathan Mackinnon — Mikko Rantanen
gabriel landeskog — nazem kadri — arturi lehkonen
Andre Burakovsky — JT Compher — Nicholas Aube-Kubel
darren helm — Nico Sturm – Logan O’Connor
Devon Toews –Cale Makar
samuel girard — joseph manson
Bowen–Byram — erik johnson
darcy kumper
pavel francouz
Lined: Jack Johnson, alex newhook, Ryan Murray, Kurtis MacDermid
Injured: Andrew Cogliano (Upper part of the body)
Predators Projected Lineup
Philip Forsberg — mikael granlund — matte duchenne
Eeli Tolvanen — Ryan Johansen — Lucas Kunin
Yakov Trenin — Colton Sissons — tanner jeannot
cousins of nick — Michael McCarron — Mathieu Oliver
Roman Josh. Dante Fabbro
Mattias Ekholm — Alexandre Bearer
Jeremy Lauzon — matt benning
Connor Ingram
david rittich
Lined: ben harp, Philip Myers, matt luff
Injured: Mark Borowiecki (upper body), Juuse Saros (lower body)
status report
The Avalanche are expected to wear the same lineup they wore in a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 2 on Thursday. … Cogliano, a forward, is the day-to-day … Ingram will be making his second straight start after making 49 saves on Thursday. … Saros, a goalkeeper, remains out of the game. … The status of Borowiecki, a defenseman, will depend on how he feels on Saturday, Hynes said. … Nashville is considering lineup changes.
NHL.com correspondent John Glennon contributed
Reference-www.nhl.com