The Nashville Predators look to return to their winning ways and split a two-game road trip on Saturday when they face the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.
Puck drop is at 5 p.m. CT, with the game set to broadcast on Bally Sports South, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio.
Here’s everything you need to know:
LAST TIME OUT
Jason Zucker scored twice in the first six minutes of the game and Roman Josi recorded another three-point effort, but the Predators ultimately fell to the Arizona Coyotes by a 8-4 decision at Mullett Arena on Thursday.
The result saw Nashville’s franchise-record point streak snapped at 18 games (16-0-2) and handed the Predators their first regulation loss since Feb. 15.
Josi recorded three assists to reach 500 career helpers in his 900th career game. The effort stretched Josi’s point streak to eight games (4g-10a) and earned him the fourth three-point performance in his last 14 outings.
Scoring in the third period, Filip Forsberg (41) established a franchise-record seven-game goal streak (8g, March 13-29) and inched closer to breaking the franchise’s single-season goal record (43). Forsberg additionally established a season-high eight-game point streak (8g-8a) recording the primary assist on Nyquist’s goal.
With a secondary assist on Zucker’s first goal, Colton Sissons recorded the 200th point (88g-112a) of his NHL career. Sissons’ 20th helper of the season additionally earned the forward his second career 20-assist campaign and his first since 2021-22 (21).
Kevin Lankinen replaced Juuse Saros to start the third period and made 11 saves on as many shots in the relief effort.
Jeremy Lauzon recorded a game-high 11 hits, one shy of a season-high established on Jan. 15 vs. Vegas. Cody Glass rejoined Nashville’s lineup for his first game since March 7 vs. Buffalo and recorded two assists and three shots in 11:51 of ice time. Spencer Stastney returned from injury for his first game since March 13 vs. Winnipeg and recorded one block and one shot in 19:45 of ice time.
THE GOOD GUYS
Forsberg leads the Predators in points (83) and goals (41); he is ninth in goals and tied for 13th in points among League skaters and has recorded 30 points (16g-14a) in his last 19 games.
Josi leads his club in assists (57) and all NHL defensemen in goals (19). Nashville’s captain recorded 24 points (8g-16a), the second most on the team and the joint-most among all League blueliners, during Nashville’s streak.
Saros is 32-22-4 after 58 appearances, with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage; the netminder went 12-0-2 and posted a 1.92 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage during Nashville’s point streak.
Lankinen is 10-4-0 in 19 appearances, with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage; he won all four of his starts during Nashville’s streak and posted a 1.50 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage during that span.
Nashville’s 18-game point streak was the longest active streak in the NHL and the longest of the 2023-24 campaign. During the streak, Nashville outscored their opponents 74-33, scored the most goals per game (4.11) and allowed the fewest goals per game (1.83).
Since Nov. 24, the Predators are 20-5-3 away from home, the most road points in the NHL in that span (43) and have grabbed points in 12 of their last 14 road games (10-1-2).
Nashville holds the Western Conference’s first Wild Card spot with 90 points and a 22-11-3 record on the road.
THE OTHER GUYS
The Avalanche look to close out a five-game homestand with seven out of 10 possible points, after going 2-1-1 in their previous four outings.
Nathan MacKinnon leads the Avalanche in points (123), goals (45) and assists (78) and is second, tied for fourth and third among all NHL skaters in each respective category. The forward’s 35-game home point streak, which ended Thursday, is the second-longest in NHL history, behind only Wayne Gretzky (40 in 1988-89).
Alexander Georgiev is 37-15-4 after 57 appearances - including a 0-2-0 record against Nashville this season - with a 2.80 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. Backup netminder Justus Annunen is 5-3-1 after nine appearances, with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.
Colorado is second in the Central Division with 98 points and a 28-7-1 record at home; they’ve recorded the most home wins (28), points (57) and goals (151) of any NHL team this season.
ALL-TIME MEETINGS
The Predators are 49-36-(5)-4 all-time against the Avalanche, including a 23-20-(2)-2 record on the road. This is the third and final matchup between Nashville and Colorado in 2023-24; it is the first and only at Ball Arena.
Nashville is 2-0-0 against Colorado this season, most recently earning a 5-1 win at Bridgestone Arena on March 2. In the first meeting on Nov. 20, a 4-3 win, the Predators scored 16 seconds apart in the final minute of regulation to tie and take the lead; it was the first time in franchise history Nashville scored a game-tying goal and go-ahead goal in the final minute of regulation.
The Predators are 2-2-1 in their last five games against the Avalanche; they are 5-4-1 in their last 10; and 1-4-0 in their last five on the road. Nashville has won 17 of its last 26 regular-season games against Colorado, including an 11-game win streak from April 5, 2016-Nov. 7, 2018. During the win streak, Nashville posted 4.2 goals per game and held Colorado to two-or-fewer goals seven times.
NOTABLES VS. COLORADO
- Josi recorded a 12-game point streak vs. Colorado (5g-11a) from March 28, 2016-Jan. 21, 2019. He’s recorded a point in 30 of his 43 career games against the Avalanche, tallying 14 goals and 41 points.
- Sissons has 17 points (8g-9a) in 25 career regular-season games vs. Colorado.
- Forsberg notched his fourth career hat trick on Feb. 23, 2017 vs. the Avalanche. He’s averaged more than a point per game in his career against Colorado, recording 36 points (18g-18a) in 34 games, including five game-winning goals.
- Glass recorded his first career hat trick on March 2 vs. Colorado.
- Tyson Barrie was drafted by Colorado in the third round (64th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft. He played the first 484 games of his career with the Avalanche from 2011-19, totaling 307 points (75g-232a).
- Ryan O’Reilly was drafted by Colorado in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft. He spent six seasons with the Avalanche from 2009-15, recording 246 points (90g-156a) in 427 games.
- Kiefer Sherwood played in 27 games across two seasons (2020-22) for Colorado, posting five points (1g-4a).
- Predators Assistant Coach Dan Hinote won the 2001 Stanley Cup as a player for the Avalanche.
- Colorado defenseman Samuel Girard was selected by the Predators in the second round (47th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He skated in five games for Nashville in 2017-18, tallying three points (1g-2a).
- Avalanche forward Yakov Trenin played the first 283 games of his NHL career with Nashville from 2019-24, recording 79 points (46g-33a).
MILESTONE WATCH
- Forsberg is three goals away from passing the Predators single-season record (43).
- Nyquist is two assists from 300 and four goals from 200 in his NHL career.
- Luke Schenn is three points from 200 in his NHL career.
- Barrie is four assists from 400 in his NHL career.
- Luke Evangelista is five games from 100 in his NHL career.
- Zucker is five goals from 200 in his NHL career.
WATCH & LISTEN
Coverage for Saturday’s game begins at 4:30 p.m. CT with the Predators LIVE! pregame show on Bally Sports South, hosted by Lyndsay Rowley. Play-by-play announcer Willy Daunic and analyst Chris Mason will have the call on the television side.
Pete Weber and Hal Gill will call the game on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network, with pregame, postgame and intermission coverage by Max Herz beginning one hour before puck drop. The game will also be broadcast in Spanish on El Jefe which airs on 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM. (El partido también se transmite en español por El Jefe en 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM y 810 AM.)
