The Colorado Avalanche need to start a legitimate winning streak by beating the Nashville Predators. It won’t be easy since they’re playing in Smashville.
The Colorado Avalanche have a sexy three-game winning streak going that’s currently keeping their playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, the (hated) Minnesota Wild aren’t cooperating. They won last night, so the Avs still haven’t re-taken their playoff berth. But the team can only control their own play.
The Avalanche didn’t play their best game last night. Luckily for Colorado, goalie Semyon Varlamov played one of his classic game-stealers, and the team beat the Chicago Blackhawks.
Well, there’s no time to be too high or too low this time of year. Less than 24 hours after they took the ice in Chicago, they’ll be taking it again in Nashville.
The Predators are a different team than Chicago, of course. They’re firmly in their playoff berth because they’re so good. And they’ve gotten good recently and buckling down this time of year.
That said, the Avs play best when they’re the underdogs. And, after a superstar start to their season that even saw them getting national attention, they’re back to being those underdogs.
How to Enjoy the Game
Game time: February 23, 3:30 pm MT
TV Networks: ALT, FS-TN (Preds’ Feed)
Radio: Altitude Radio (FM 92.5)
Game Management
More from Analysis
- 4 goalies to replace Pavel Francouz if he has to miss time
- What does Ross Colton bring to the Colorado Avalanche?
- Colorado Avalanche in-depth look at Jonathan Drouin
- Colorado Avalanche without Gabriel Landeskog, will another wear the “C”?
- Avalanche vs. Kraken prediction and odds for NHL playoffs Game 3
I guess every team struggles with consistency. However, it’s ever been the bane of the Colorado Avalanche’s existence. The team struggles to play a full 60 minutes with any regularity.
Well, they’ll have to find a way to do so this afternoon. Nashville is too good of a team for the Avs to take more than a few shifts off, much less a whole period or two, as is their wont.
Naturally, the best case scenario is if the Avalanche score first. Not that they play superbly with a lead. However, Nashville does, so it’s best if the Avs aren’t trying to play catch up. However, if they do go down a goal, it’s time to pucker up and tighten up their game management.
Back-to-Back Fatigue
One thing that may affect the Colorado Avalanche’s performance is fatigue. They’re coming off a hard-fought game in Chicago and a flight to Nashville.
The Predators, meanwhile, played their last game at home. On Thursday. Against the basement-dwelling LA Kings. They won.
Colorado is going to have to fight back the fatigue. Maybe it will help that they can breathe in all that extra oxygen. Plus, they likely got in too late to be able to hit any of Nashville’s famed nightlife.
Speaking of Nashville, former Avalanche star Matt Duchene is not a Predator… yet. Yesterday he got traded from the Ottawa to the Columbus Blue Jackets, which just feels random and weird. However, he’s likely just a rental player in Columbus. I expect he’ll sign with Nashville in the offseason.
Back to Colorado, which is what will happen with the Avs after today’s game. They’ll head home for a two-game road stand that starts with the Florida Panthers on Monday.