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
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
So what side should you back? And where does the value lie? Visit SportsLine to get NHL odds and picks for every Stanley Cup playoff game, all from the advanced computer model on a red-hot 21-8 NHL run.
The Philadelphia Flyers and the Colorado Avalanche will play in a Game 6, thanks to some late-game heroics on Friday night on enemy ice. The Flyers got a late goal in Game 5 from none other than injured Sean Couturier to beat the Penguins, 3-2, in Pittsburgh. The Avs, who have played top-ranked Nashville tough all series long, also managed to stay alive thanks to some late dramatics. Colorado scored two late goals to stun the Predators and force a Game 6 back in Denver this weekend.
In Friday's other game, the Winnipeg Jets will advance to the next round after dominating the Wild 5-0. Here, we've got you covered with everything you need for tonight's action:
Friday's full schedule
Updated playoff bracket
CBSSports.com illustration by Mike Meredith
Avs get two late goals for dramatic comeback win
The Colorado Avalanche managed to get a huge victory on Friday night in Nashville, staving off elimination and forcing a Game 6 in Denver.
The Predators got a controversial goal to open the scoring late in the game, but Colorado showed resolve and ripped off two straight goals for the dramatic win. Andrew Hammond -- the Avalanche's third-string goalie, playing in just his ninth NHL game over the past two seasons -- was outstanding, making 44 saves in a 2-1 victory.
It was a ground war for about two-and-a-half periods before someone finally made a dent on the scoreboard. Andrew Hammond and Pekka Rinne were spectacular in an evenly matched game, but it was Nick Bonino who managed to break the scoreless tie in the third period.
He did so on a play (and an officiating decision) that would've been questioned for days had it decided the game. Bonino was able to score on a rebound, but it was quickly waved off after the official determined he kicked the puck into the net. The play went to review, where officials then decided to reverse their call, explaining there was no distinct kicking motion from Bonino.
Do you agree with their determination that it's a good goal?
Nick Bonino puts the Predators on the board pic.twitter.com/CpariwHlIm — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 21, 2018
Either way, it ultimately didn't matter. The Avs stormed back, first with this goal from Gabriel Landeskog, which was set up thanks to incredible patience from Nathan MacKinnon.
Amazing play by Nathan MacKinnon to set up the Avs game-tying goal pic.twitter.com/vqvi0RS2Kf — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 21, 2018
Then, shortly after, Colorado was able to get the go-ahead (and eventual game-winning) goal with Sven Andrighetto picking up rebound duties on an odd-man rush.
And suddenly the Avalanche have a lead pic.twitter.com/JWqoxTpjfm — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 21, 2018
As a result, the Avalanche stay alive and force the series back to their barn for a game on Sunday. Who saw this series going (at least) six games? Probably not many.
Flyers force Game 6 with late Couturier goal
After a long, arduous third period, it was the Flyers' Sean Couturier, playing injured, who delivered Friday's game-winning goal against the Penguins in Game 5. Couturier's heroics staved off elimination for the Flyers and ensures there will be a Game 6 back in Philly on Sunday. Couturier's shot was a snipe from the blue line the went through the entire defense, and Matt Murray never found it.
Michal Neuvirth then made an unbelievable save to maintain the lead for the Flyers, and an empty netter from Matt Read on Valterri Filppula's assist (his third point of the game) at 19:42 sealed the 4-2 win. Couturier's goal came at 18:45 at the tail end of a relentless Flyers attack. These teams will head back to Philly as the Penguins try again to clinch, and the Flyers try to force a deciding Game 7 after what was easily the best game of the series.
Sean Couturier scores to give the Flyers a late lead. Brian Dumoulin feels betrayed by his shin pad pic.twitter.com/KLN5Lbt0Wd — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 21, 2018
Neuvirth robs Crosby to preserve the Flyers lead, because why not pic.twitter.com/dlW14voQAP — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 21, 2018
Earlier in the game, it took the Flyers 17:29 of grinding, but they finally got on the board in the first period on a wicked one-timer wrist shot from Claude Giroux for his first goal of the series. The Flyers got off to the perfect start, drawing a penalty after a strong stretch of pressure and then killing a penalty of their own while the Penguins struggled to get any momentum. Neuvirth started strong for the Flyers, making a few saves, and the team looked like it was clicking outside of a silly penalty that the Penguins couldn't capitalize on.
Claude Giroux first goal vs Penguins in 9 games this year pic.twitter.com/paKfPVsleb — John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 20, 2018
For Giroux, the goal snapped an 11-game streak without a goal, which should be a huge confidence booster for not only Giroux, but the entire team moving forward.
The Penguins also got a scare when one of their stars Evgeni Malkin stayed on the ice after the Flyers' Jori Lehtera fell on his leg. Malkin returned to the game in the second period.
The Penguins' equalizer came 12 minutes into the second period when Bryan Rust nudged a wraparound goal past the skate of Neuvirth, who had hung on by the skin of his teeth for the previous five minutes after a slashing penalty from Shayne Gostisbehere put the Penguins on the attack in the power play. Neuvirth made a few nice -- if dangerous -- saves, but he couldn't hold the lead after losing Rust behind the net.
A sick wraparound from Bryan Rust ties the game in Pittsburgh! 😵
Watch the #StanleyCupPlayoffs here: https://t.co/C3ydDHK9Sx pic.twitter.com/2nkWA8LsdQ — NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) April 21, 2018
Rust now has nine goals in 16 elimination games for Penguins, and he continued to live up to his clutch reputation with the tying goal on Friday. Slightly under five minutes later, the Penguins scored again on a goal where everything went wrong for the Flyers. A turnover led to a rush for Pittsburgh and Jake Guentzel rifled a shot past Neuvirth, who just seemed to lose the puck off the stick. The momentum change within PPG Paints Arena was palpable and it looked like the Flyers were in trouble down 2-1, and a penalty did nothing to assuage those concerns.
However, Filppula scored a goal shorthanded for his second point of the game on a rare rebound off of Murray. Filppula was excellent on the first line for the Flyers, and he was the difference between the Flyers trailing 2-0 and keeping the game tied heading into the third. The Flyers were fighting for all they're worth, and the gravity of this game was apparent after two periods tied 2-2. Heading into the third period, neither team could quite pull away, as the Flyers fought for their season and the Penguins tried to put them away.
Filppula ties it shorthanded! pic.twitter.com/yBmcQUXgtH — Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) April 21, 2018
The Flyers seemed to know that if this game went into overtime, it would be a huge momentum swing in favor of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh finished 0-for-5 on the power play, while the Flyers went just 0-for-1 in a game that saw a ton of 4-on-4 hockey. It was tough and physical, and far from Neuvirth's best game. But in the end, he came up clutch to keep the Flyers in the series, and that's why he got the start.
Jets dominate Wild to advance
The Minnesota Wild were facing a do-or-die Game 5 in Winnipeg and, boy, things did not go their way, with the Wild losing 5-0 after never recovering from a four-goal onslaught in the first period.
The Jets poured it on early, starting with a goal from Jacob Trouba just 31 seconds into the game, and that would have been the game winner on its own, but it didn't stop there.
Winnipeg's relentless attack just kept coming. They scored four goals on their first 10 shots of the first period, chasing Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk after just 12 minutes of action. The rest of the game was both teams just waiting on the game to be over, until Mark Scheifele scored his fourth goal of the series 32 seconds into the third period to go up 5-0. The Jets were simply the better team, as they have been for most of the series, and they'll go on to play the winner of Predators-Avalanche in the second round.
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Odds for each series
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