Filip Forsberg scores another other-worldly goal as the Preds build 3-0 lead, hang on for a victory in Game 4. Read & Watch
DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche will look to even the Western Conference First Round against the Nashville Predators in Game 4 at Pepsi Center on Wednesday.
The Avalanche ended a 12-game losing streak to the Predators, which dated back to April 5, 2016, with a 5-3 victory in Game 3.
[RELATED: Rinne, Predators looking to bounce back | Complete Predators vs. Avalanche series coverage]
Here are 5 keys for Game 4:
1. Girard out again
Avalanche rookie defenseman Samuel Girard took part in the morning skate wearing a non-contact jersey but will miss his third game straight game with an upper-body injury. Role players David Warsofsky and Duncan Siemens need to pick up the slack.
"I don't know if there's any more pressure. You just want to play your game and contribute as much as you can," said Warsofsky, who played in 16 regular-season games but spent most of the season with San Antonio of the American Hockey League. "Everyone has to elevate their game just a little bit more."
2. Rinne looks to rebound
Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, a Vezina Trophy finalist, expects to return to form after allowing four goals on 15 shots and being pulled at 4:25 of the second period in Game 3. He has a 4.17 goals-against average and .861 save percentage in the series.
"You have to have a short memory," he said. "It was a disappointing night for all of us. We need a bounce back, myself too. One of those things where the puck seemed to find the net. It was frustrating. Today is a new day and we're in a good spot. It's behind me."
Video: NSH@COL, Gm3: Bourque tips Nemeth's shot past Rinne
3. Predators seek better start
Nashville has allowed the first goal in each game during the series, permitting a goal on the first shot in each of the first two games and on the second shot in Game 3. Colorado has outscored Nashville 5-0 in the first period.
"Obviously we don't want to be down a goal right away," Predators forward Filip Forsberg said. "They've been doing a good job being ready to play. … You have to give them credit; they came out ready to play and punished us hard for not being ready."
4. Discipline lacking
In the first three games of the series, the Avalanche have taken 17 penalties totaling 42 minutes, the Predators 18 penalties for 36 minutes.
"I just want to make sure we're disciplined," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I like the way we're playing 5-on-5, I want us to make sure we do that as much as possible, using our physical play protecting pucks and stealing pucks to try and draw penalties, but not getting engaged in stuff after the whistle. If some of the nastiness comes after the whistle, I'm good with our guys skating away as long as we're sticking up for one another."
5. Special-teams play
The Predators have gone 3-for-10 on the power plays. The Avalanche are 1-for-13, with their lone goal with the man advantage coming on a 5-on-3 in Game 2.
"We do need better from our power play," Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog said. "Sometimes you go through a couple games where we may be looking a little too much for that perfect play or on certain plays you want to run instead of creating things off the top. But I'm not worried."
Video: NSH@COL, Gm3: Johansen buries rebound for PPG
Predators projected lineup
Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Colton Sissons -- Nick Bonino -- Austin Watson
Miikka Salomaki -- Mike Fisher -- Ryan Hartman
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Matt Irwin
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched: Anthony Bitetto, Scott Hartnell, Anders Lindback, Eeli Tolvanen
Injured: Calle Jarnkrok (upper body), Yannick Weber (upper body)
Avalanche projected lineup
Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Tyson Jost -- Alexander Kerfoot -- Sven Andrighetto
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Colin Wilson -- J.T. Compher -- Gabriel Bourque
Nikita Zadorov -- Tyson Barrie
Patrik Nemeth - Mark Barberio
Duncan Siemens -- David Warsofsky
Jonathan Bernier
Andrew Hammond
Scratched: Mark Alt, Vladislav Kamenev, Anton Lindholm, Dominic Toninato, Nail Yakupov
Injured: Samuel Girard (upper body), Erik Johnson (knee), Semyon Varlamov (knee)
Status report
Jarnkrok practiced again and could return to the lineup. He was injured March 13 against the Winnipeg Jets … Rinne needs one win to tie Nikolai Khabibulin for 27th place on the NHL's all-time playoff list for goaltending victories (39).
Well, that was a roller coaster of emotions.
The Nashville Predators, previously never having scored first in this series, built a 3-0 lead and hung on to win 3-2 over the Colorado Avalanche tonight at Denver’s Pepsi Center.
The first twenty minutes were the best start that the Predators have had to a game this series. Although they had nothing to show for it until a wundergoal by Filip Forsberg, the Predators came out with speed and pace that was not present in the first three games. The Avalanche were very limited to the outside of the net. However, the power play continued to be of ECHL quality as the Predators squandered away a golden 5v3 to start the game.
The second period was better, as the Predators tallied twice. Although Nashville’s lack of discipline has started to rear its ugly head once again, the penalty killers did a pretty good job containing the Avalanche, still keeping them scoreless through two. Ryan Hartman got speared in the _________, and the Predators ended up with more guys in the box. I get that it’s not a head shot, but DoPS should take a look at that.
The third period did not treat the Predators kindly, as they started sans Ryan Johansen, who left the second with an apparent head injury. He returned, but not before the Predators reverted to their play from the first three games and conceded two goals. Nonetheless, the Predators hung on and managed to steal a win from high altitude, giving them the potential to close out the series on home ice Friday night.
Random Observations
And we’re off! Calle Jarnkrok is back! Huzzah!
Early puck to Bernier’s neck, hope he’s alright.
Good, he is.
Delay of game already? Let’s see what the golden boys can do
ANOTHER ONE. Carl Sodoberg high sticks Nick Bonino in the slot and the Predators have an early two man advantage.
I’m sorry but, if you think that firing point shots on a 5v3 is an effective strategy, get your hockey IQ checked. This power play is atrocious, uninspired, and terrible. When is the last time they went back door on the power play? They never throw different looks in. Never. All they do is fire point shots without strategic objectives. If they were low shots, it would make slightly more sense since they could crash a rebound. But all these top-corner high-rising point shots? This is dumb and pathetic. If you’re playing, never shoot high from the point. Hockey 101 right there. Predators get nothing from the 5v3.
Calle Jarnkrok already creating chances, nearly finds Fisher in the slot.
EMELIN STOP HOCKEY-ING, YOU AREN’T REALLY HOCKEY-ING.
FILIP FORSBERG MY WORD.
For my money, the two most dominant players these playoffs have been Filip Forsberg and Artemi Panarin. They both have very similar methods for entering the zone, streaking in and cutting through the left wing.
Much better first period by the golden boys.
Irwin you can’t do that buddy.
How is that delay of game? 5v3 for Colorado.
Why did Fisher dump the puck when halfway into the Colorado zone on the 3v5? Should have just played it back to Rinne in the defensive zone. Better to have possession than move the puck ten feet forwards.
SISSONS OUT OF THE BOX WITH THE FAR POST SNIPE.
Great presence of mind for Sissons to shoot against the grain there.
Ryan Hartman gets speared in the jewels and the Predators end up on the penalty kill?
Hartman with the two-fingered “I’ve got my eyes on you” to Sven Andrighetto, infamous international jewel spearer. Love it. I do this in men’s league all the time. Am I a pest?
CRAIG SMITH DOESN’T SMITH IT! 3-0 guys who don’t spear other dudes in the crotch.
Oh no.
Johansen falls into a hit by Landeskog that would’ve been in the hips if he stayed up. It lands on Joey’s head and he’s down the tunnel.
Bernier is replaced by Hammond to start the third, as Bernier is reportedly out with a lower body injury. Odd but interesting I suppose, I’m not sure on what play Bernier got injured.
Johansen still gone to start the third. I’m not panicking, you’re panicking.
Sike we’re both panicking.
Once again, the power play gets nothing. Color me not surprised.
An underrated element of play, but the Avalanche have done a great job of keeping possession during delayed penalties. Kudos.
Both Sissons and Hartman take penalties. 5v3 for Colorado, two minutes long.
The Avalanche score backdoor on the 5v3. Must be nice. 3-1.
Watson almost scores short handed because of course.
Rinne gets away with a cross check to Jost. Jost gave Rinne a snow shower, but the Predators are really lucky there that there’s no penalty on Rinne. The retaliation normally always gets called.
Is that a “Rinne sucks” chant by Colorado after that? I mean, sure, the play was totally cheap and dirty, but I’m honestly just proud that they’ve learned to chant.
Predators are leaning a little more heavily on Rinne this third period. Keep the pedal on the gas, boys.
Avalanche pressing extremely hard.
Kerfoot scores on a rebound. However, Comeau contacts Rinne’s pad without any push or anything. The puck was on Pekka’s pad, and Comeau pushes it off. Pekka was in his crease. Should be no goal.
Goal. Unbelievable. 3-2 Avalanche.
Johansen is back with 8:30 left! Thank lord.
No call on Sissons getting destroyed well after dumpung the puck. Same play that Sissons was penalized for earlier. All I ask of the referees is to be consistent, and they are failing. Failing both ways.
Is setting a pick now allowed? Smith completely blocked from getting into the offensive zone.
MacKinnon is getting away with a lot of cross-checks behind the play, the choppy kind every defenseman does in the crease. Granted, the Predators have escaped with a fair share of penalties too, but still.
COLIN WILSON HITS THE POST #RegularSeasonColinWilson.
Empty net. Hold onto your Labatts.
PREDS HANG ON. 3-1 LEAD.
Three Stars
Filip Forsberg: 1g, 1a, and another goal of the season. Mattias Ekholm: 2a, solid presence, got under fellow countryman Landeskog’s skin. Pekka Rinne: if the Predators remembered how to hockey the first ten minutes of the third period, he would have had a shutout.
Advanced Stats
Nashville Corsi-for %: 52.22
Nashville Fenwick-for %: 56.72%
Shots: 27 NSH, 23 COL
Nashville High Danger Chances: 11
Colorado High Danger Chances: 6
Especially of note is Nashville’s high danger chances. Through the previous three games, they only had 13 total high danger chances. That number was nearly doubled in one game tonight. If you want evidence that Peter Laviolette got the boys ready to play tonight, look no further than that number.
Tweets of the Night
Does Gatorade Flow go down “real smooth” on the golf course? Asking for some friends. — Gnash (@Gnash00) April 19, 2018
“You have to call the IKEA help line, don’t you?” https://t.co/STl4WKJwLD — Dan (@DanDBradley) April 19, 2018
I nominate this as the new official referee signal for groin spearing. https://t.co/w0uNBDcTdV — Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 19, 2018
Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) celebrates his goal with defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) during the first period Wednesday. (Photo: Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com)
DENVER — Sweep the leg, Flip. It’s time to finish the Colorado Avalanche.
The Predators went through four rounds of this grueling and wonderful thing called the Stanley Cup playoffs last spring, and 22 games of it can make you appreciate the value of efficiency.
These excursions are too draining to play any more than you have to, and the Predators now have the Avs stumbling around the octagon, punch-drunk and one uppercut away from the golf course.
It was Filip Forsberg – that’s “Flip” in Predators locker room-ese – who made the move and scored the goal that set the tone for Wednesday’s 3-2 Game 4 win at Pepsi Center to take a 3-1 series lead. But to Colorado’s credit and Nashville’s discredit, this was a 3-0 laugher that turned into 9 minutes of frantic tension after the Avs scored twice in the third.
More: Preds survive Avs late push, return to Nashville with chance to advance
Again, these things are grueling. Draining. Rarely easy. But Pekka Rinne and the Predators held on, and in a way, that tease might be even tougher for young Colorado to overcome as it looks to stave off elimination Friday night in Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena.
“We have a chance to finish the series at home, so obviously that’s something that’s in the back of your head. We want to take advantage of that and have this opportunity,” said Rinne, who stopped 31 of 33 shots. “But it’s a good team, so we’ve got to play again like this.”
Story continues below
Well, like 40 minutes of it. For the first two-thirds of this game, Colorado looked like one-half of the team that was dragging the Avs around the ice at will. Forsberg capped Game 1 with an astounding through-my-legs-and-your-legs move on Avs defenseman Samuel Girard, but his Wednesday drive might have been better.
Forgive the football analogy but I’m out of karate analogies, and Forsberg looked like a hard-charging defensive end as he ripped through Colorado defenseman Duncan Siemens on his way to the net. Defenseman Patrik Nemeth was like a helpless running back who couldn’t get over for a block as Forsberg curled around to find a gaping goal.
Just as a quarterback must sometimes peel himself off the grass after a sack, Jonathan Bernier could only pick the puck out of his net as “Holy $%&!” rang out several times in the press box far above the ice. Broncos sack master Von Miller, who had a front-row seat Wednesday, must have raised an eyebrow at least.
“A lot of speed, just tried to use my speed wide and used it all around the net,” said Forsberg, who later sent a perfect pass to Colton Sissons for the goal to go up 2-0.
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“The usual,” Austin Watson said of Forsberg’s latest. “I mean, I know we talk about it all the time, but it seems to be the usual right now. He does some cool stuff out there.”The goal gave Nashville a 1-0 lead with 4:27 left in a first period the Predators completely owned. It silenced a crowd that was cranked to the max Monday as the home team jumped to a 4-0 lead in a Game 3 ambush of Rinne. It was the Predators’ first goal in a first period in this series, and the first time they scored first in this series.
It was Forsberg and the Predators saying this to the Avalanche and their fans: You’ve had your fun.
“Best hockey we’ve played in a long time,” Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis said of the start. “We clinched the playoffs a long time before the season ended and I think we coasted to the playoffs and really coasted through the first three games. That was inspired. We had a really good practice the day before, and that was unbelievable, great effort by the guys. It was effort; that’s all it was. Skating hard, trying to win every battle, and we got rewarded for it.”
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CLOSE IndyCar driver and Hendersonville native has been a Nashville Predators fan his whole life. Now he just wishes he could make an NHL playoff game.
Nothing’s over until it’s over, but this was reality for all involved. The Predators should wrap this thing up Friday, and the Winnipeg Jets should do the same on the same night at home against Minnesota so this postseason can get to its second-round super series already.
The fine sports fans of Denver can soon turn their attention back to hoping Case Keenum is the answer at quarterback. They have an exciting hockey team here, a team with a future, but it was overmatched Wednesday until the desperate comeback. It misses injured defenseman Girard and Erik Johnson. Bernier left the game after two periods with a lower-body injury, down 3-0, and there was really no reason to play the third.
But that’s when reality found the Predators as well. With Ryan Johansen sitting after taking a faceful of Gabriel Landeskog’s knees late in the second, Nashville just needed to be solid and smart in the final 20 minutes. Instead, Ryan Hartman (charging) and Sissons (tripping) picked up needless penalties on the same play and Landeskog finally solved Rinne with a 5-on-3 putback. The building had life for the first time.
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Then Alexander Kerfoot put home a rebound – challenged for goaltender interference and it was close – with 8:59 left to set up the wild finish. Johansen returned. Rinne stood tall, and his defense resumed its bounce-back performance to close things out, but Nashville continues to have a bad relationship with the penalty box that it can’t seem to quit.
This will hurt more against better teams. And the Nashville suspension Colorado fans have been screaming for, about different guys since the start of the series, is actually possible now. Hartman, who picked sticks out of his groin area twice, appeared to hit Carl Soderberg’s head on his third-period penalty.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar predicted the league will look at that one, and he may be right. Regardless of that outcome, the Predators still have one chronic weakness to address.
“I would rather we didn’t take as many,” coach Peter Laviolette said of penalties in the understatement of an understated post-game press conference.
“Yeah, we’ve got to stay out of the box,” Watson said. “I don’t know how much more we want to talk about it – I mean, I’ll say it again, we’ve got to be more disciplined.”
Also: Why did the Predators have to be smacked around in Game 3 to find the game that won them the Presidents’ Trophy this season? Maybe Calle Jarnkrok makes that much of a difference. He returned after missing more than a month with a lower-body injury and he immediately mattered. For two periods, the Predators looked every bit like a Stanley Cup favorite. They're still searching for their first excursion of excellence over 60 minutes. But 40 was enough to put this series on one wobbly leg.
Reach Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @joerexrode.
