The game-winning goal by Colorado Avalanche right wing Sven Andrighetto (10) gets by Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) during the third period in game 5 of the first round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena Friday, April 20, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com)
The Winnipeg Jets had the Minnesota Wild bludgeoned Friday, on the way to a second-round showdown with the Nashville Predators, before the Preds hit the ice to warm up for their own opportunity to eliminate and advance.
Maybe the Predators saw the score and felt extra pressure. Maybe they didn’t see it at all. Maybe it doesn’t matter. The Jets sure don’t, not yet. The only thing that mattered late Friday night at Bridgestone Arena was the shock that overtook the place, shock that crashed and ruined a seemingly certain party, shock that hung so heavily in the air you could almost see it. The Colorado Avalanche have officially become a problem in Nashville, and Friday’s 2-1 Avs reversal to keep their season alive means Denver can again be a problem for the Predators.
More: Avalanche survive elimination in Game 5 victory against Predators, extend series
Load that chartered jet back up. The Preds will hop on Saturday and try again to advance, up 3-2 in the series, on Sunday at a Pepsi Center that figured to be closed for hockey season when the Preds took Wednesday’s Game 4. The Jets — 5-0 winners over the Wild in Game 5 — can kick back and take in the action from home. And if the Avalanche can hang in and get outlandishly good goaltending from third-stringer Andrew “Hamburglar” Hammond as they did Friday, this sucker’s back at Bridgestone for a win-or-the-season-just-went-up-in-flames Game 7 on Tuesday.
Give the Avalanche credit. They scored twice in the last 4:11 when it looked like their season was cooked, one a Gabriel Landeskog gimme on a pass from Nathan MacKinnon with the Nashville defense all over the ice and out of position. And then the winner with 1:28 left from Sven Andrighetto after a 2-on-1 and a rebound allowed by Pekka Rinne. Give the Predators blame. They blew it on a night they mostly dominated, a night that should have belonged to their Vezina finalist goaltender.
More: Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche: Game 6 start time announced
"We can’t be depressed in here and sit and stew," Nashville's Colton Sissons said afterward. "We’ve got to move on and be professionals. We’ve been here before and we’ll be ready for Game 6, that’s for sure."
CLOSE Nashville Predators' coach Peter Laviolette said that his team had plenty of chances. They just failed to capitalize on them against the Avalanche.
Anything else would be surprising. But understand, Nashville, that your team has gone in this story from protagonist to antagonist. This was supposed to be an easy brushing aside of young Colorado for the Stanley Cup favorite Preds, but it has become an arrival for the Avalanche. And with Hammond leading the way Friday, the Predators have unwittingly stumbled into a later chapter of the book he absolutely must write some day. The chapter should start with him getting sent from Ottawa to Colorado last fall as a throw-in, part of a three-way trade with the rebuilding Avs also getting young defenseman Samuel Girard from Nashville, and with the Cup-ready Preds getting center Kyle Turris from Ottawa.
More: Maren Morris sings national anthem for Predators Stanley Cup Playoff Game 5 against Avs
Hammond, who got that nickname from a college teammate at Bowling Green, was one of hockey’s great stories in 2014 in Ottawa. He and the Senators — featuring Turris — came out of nowhere to reach the postseason, and they were showered in burgers from their adoring public. With starter Semyon Varlamov out for this entire series and backup Jonathan Bernier suffering a lower-body injury in Game 4, Hammond got his chance at a reprise.
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Andrew Hammond (35) stops a shot by Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) during the second period in game 5 of the first round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena Friday, April 20, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com)
He has played four periods. He has given up a goal on 53 shots — off Nick Bonino’s skate with 9:42 left in the third Friday, initially ruled no goal but reversed after it was clear Bonino did not kick it. That oddity was going to be the winning goal until Colorado’s late flurry. Hammond withstood charge after charge, gobbled up primo shot after primo shot, rarely gave up the big rebound. The Predators mostly dominated this game, and Hammond made sure it totally didn’t matter. Maybe we should call him “The Catfisherman” from now on.
"He was absolutely amazing," Andrighetto said.
More: Titans' secondary in Bridgestone Arena to support Predators for Game 5 against Avalanche
"I'm happy for him, I'm proud of him, he's waited a long time this year for this opportunity," Colorado coach Jared Bednar said.
"I said it yesterday, you want to play meaningful hockey," Hammond said. "When the games mean more, I think I try to take my game to another level ... I was able to do that tonight. The guys just kept battling and didn’t waver. Even when we get down 1-0 late, to win it in regulation I think it speaks to the character we have here and we don’t quit. That’s the same approach I expect in Game 6 now, to keep grinding away."
CLOSE Andrew Hammond's impressive game in the net prevented the Nashville Predators from capitalizing on the shots on goal, ending in a loss.
The Predators were down to 4 minutes and change to hold on against an exhausted opponent and advance. But the supremely skilled MacKinnon got the puck in the slot and P.K. Subban went down to block his shot, but MacKinnon kept the puck and kept advancing. Ryan Ellis went down, too, in a heap near Subban, and by the time MacKinnon sent a pass, Landeskog was all alone in front of the net. That was a case of a great line outmaneuvering a tired defense. But the 2-on-1 can’t happen with 90 seconds left in a tie game.
"We have a game in hand with four minutes to go in the playoffs in an elimination game — we have to close those games," Bonino said.
Nashville Predators left wing Viktor Arvidsson (33) reacts to the team's loss to the Avalanche in game 5 of the first round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena Friday, April 20, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
They didn't, and so the Jets rest and relax, while the Predators regroup and refocus.
The night started with so much promise, with a sunlit happy hour on Broadway, with Tennessee Titans defensive backs waving towels and catfish, with Maren Morris nailing the national anthem and with hopes of a romp to advance to the series everyone has been anticipating. It ended in shocked silence. And with a story that has changed and is no longer being dictated by the heavy favorites from Nashville, but by a journeyman third-string goaltender who just snuck back to Denver with a burgled hockey game in his bag.
Contact Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.
Predators playoff schedule
Game 6
WHEN: Sunday, April 22 at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Pepsi Center, Denver
TV: Fox TN, NBCSN
RADIO: 102.5 The Game (Nashville), NHL app
STREAMING*: NHL.tv, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, Fox Sports Go
CLOSE Nashville Predators fans have been throwing catfish for years, but the frenzy around the tradition during the Stanley Cup final only made it bigger.
A catfish is removed from the ice during the second period in game 2 of the first round NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
The catfish counter keeps increasing.
Two more catfish were thrown onto the ice before Game 5 of the Predators' first-round series with the Colorado Avalanche, upping the total amount of catfish thrown onto the ice by Preds fans this postseason to seven.
PREDATORS' CATFISH: Catfish tossing started because some Predators fans hated Detroit
PREDATORS' CATFISH: Meet Predators' new catfish and its 'official keeper' for postseason
In Game 1 of the series, two catfish were thrown onto the ice — one of which was hearing a small, golden hat and what appeared to be a fish-sized shirt and bow-tie.
Before the start of Game 2, a catfish wearing a "Rinne for Vezina" t-shirt and a brick wall hat graced the ice at Bridgestone Arena.
A catfish even made an appearance on the Pepsi Center ice in Denver before Game 3, proving the tradition has no bounds.
While only two catfish hit the ice before the game, at least a few more were in the building — not counting the live ones in a massive fishtank just outside the arena.
Members of the Tennessee Titans' secondary were in the building to cheer on the Preds. When the group was shown on the scoreboard, they waved towels and hoisted catfish in the air to the delight of the crowd.
The Predators can advance to the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season with a win in Game 5 over the Avalanche (at 8:30 p.m. CT).
Nashville won Game 4 in Denver to take a 3-1 series lead back to Music City; the Preds are 2-0 all-time with a 3-1 series lead.
Winger Calle Jarnkrok returned to the Predators lineup in Game 4, his first action since leaving a March 13 game with an upper-body injury. The Preds will be without the services of Ryan Hartman for Game 5 with the winger serving a one-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head in Game 4. Based on Friday's full morning skate, it appears Scott Hartnell could play his first game of the Round One series in place of Hartman.
The Avalanche announced yesterday that goaltender Jonathan Bernier will miss Game 5 with a lower-body injury. Andrew Hammond is expected to start in net tonight for Colorado.
Below is a Preds projected lineup based on Friday's morning skate:
The Nashville Predators may as well have been robbed.
Andrew Hammond, making his first playoff start in three years, made 44 saves to keep the Avalanche alive in the series as Colorado escaped with a 2-1 victory on Friday.
Things were fairly physical, though in a more controlled manner on both sides, in the first period.
The Preds killed off an early Colorado power play after Kevin Fiala was sent off for tripping less than five minutes into the contest.
Nashville began the second period with a full two-minute man advantage as J.T. Compher was called for holding at the end of the first period. The Predators got all of one shot late in the sequence and barely had any zone time to show for it.
Colorado generated several chances in transition, but Pekka Rinne and the Preds defense did their part to keep things scoreless.
Meanwhile, Nashville’s offense made Hammond look less like The Hamburglar and more like a member of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.
Nick Bonino appeared to have scored off his right skate with 9:42 left in regulation, but the goal was immediately waved off. After video review, the call was overturned and the Preds had the lead they so desperately needed.
Gabriel Landeskog finished off a neat passing play for the Avs, tying the game with 4:11 to play in regulation.
A Compfer shot led to an Andrighetto rebound, putting the Avs in front 2-1 with 1:28 to go.
Game 6 is in Denver on Sunday, with a start time scheduled for 6 p.m. Central.
Random Observations
Good work on the first penalty kill, disrupting Colorado enough to keep them out of rhythm and out of shooting positions in the high slot. Hard to shoot with your back to the net.
Hartnell playing like an inspired man early on in this one.
Colin Wilson apparently didn’t learn much in Nashville. Tried to go glove on Rinne. Nah. Probably was too busy having his hand held on flights.
Good to have Francis Bouillon in the arena tonight. The Cube was one tough fellow when he played in Nashville.
The JOFA line is definitely on a mission tonight.
Nashville outshooting Colorado 11-8 after one, but they might want to get in a bit more toward the high-danger areas, like the Avs are.
Not a good power play to start the second as the Preds barely got set up for one shot attempt.
Colorado is very much willing to keep this game in the muck if that’s what it takes.
Preds’ best offensive chance so far, a 4-on-2, and nothing comes of it. The tension is building, for sure.
Andrew Hammond came up with the Preds’ best scoring chance so far. I’m not kidding. He very nearly put it in his own net under pressure from Austin Watson.
An unbelievable push by the Preds has the momentum solidly in their favor. Might be a good time to cash in and watch this place come unglued.
Well...win a period, win the series.
Fiala back in the box. Perhaps an intervention is needed?
Fisher with a good shorthanded chance. If this is a night for an unlikely goal scorer, he’d be right up there.
Another shorthanded chance, this time by Colton Sissons...but it was eight miles wide from six feet away somehow.
Another terrible power play.
Turning your skate is not a distinct kicking motion. That is all.
The Avs have tried to grit their way through this game, but they can’t do that now with their season in immediate danger.
Landeskog ties it up. Geez. Nothing Rinne could do as the Avs made the defense look bad.
Forsberg put everything he had into that shot attempt.
45 shots on goal, 21 in the third period, Andrew Hammond looked like Patrick Roy.
Super Duper Three Stars of the Game
Rinne. Colorado had a lot of high-danger chances early, and he did what needed to be done. Despite the loss, his early work still warrants the spot. Bonino. Subtle enough, didn’t make a distinct kicking motion. Fourth line. Best game of the series for that unit with Hartnell, Jarnkrok and Fisher on it. Does not bode well for Ryan Hartman.
Postgame Reaction
Peter Laviolette on the Avs’ game-winning goal:
“That’s not the way you want a game to end. Their top line got us pinned in there a little bit, and we got a partial change, but not a full change. They got us cycling around a little bit and they were able to capitalize on it off the rush from the offensive zone.
Colton Sissons on Andrew Hammond’s performance:
“He was solid in net. I think we started to make it a little harder on him in the second and third (periods) and just couldn’t find a way to beat him enough tonight. So, kudos to him.”
Nick Bonino on whether the mood is more frustration or disappointment:
“Both. When you have the lead with four-and-a-half minutes to go in an elimination game, you have to close those games.”
Filip Forsberg on whether the Predators might have gotten too aggressive in a 1-1 game:
It’s tough. Situations happen, and we were close to putting one in there right before and it goes the other way ... We’ve got to be able to close out a game, especially here at home, but at the same time, I give (Colorado) credit. They didn’t give up, they kept coming at us and their goalie played good, too.”
Tweets of the Night
``We Want Nashville'' is what the crowd at Bell MTS Place is chanting... — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) April 21, 2018
It’s time to get mad, be physical and kick some ass. #Preds — Grace Barnhouse (@GraceBarnhouse) April 21, 2018
I would love a #Preds goal so I can stop stress eating animal crackers. C'mon guys, help me out here... — Sandy Weaver (@SandyDWeaver) April 21, 2018
I didn’t expect anything from the PP and I’m still disappointed — Bobby Misey (@Bmisey) April 21, 2018
You still haven’t redeemed yourself, Kevin Pollock. — On The Forecheck (@OnTheForecheck) April 21, 2018
Game Extras
