Three Thoughts: Five Preds Score, Nashville Takes 2-0 Series Lead

Five different Preds scored as Nashville took Game 2 by a 5-4 final score for a 2-0 series lead over the Avalanche.
4-on-4 Conversion: The Predators tallied twice while skating 4-on-4 in the second period.
First, Viktor Arvidsson looked off a pass to Ryan Johansen and beat Jonathan Bernier with a slapper from the right circle. Four minutes later, P.K. Subban blocked a shot just outside the Predators' crease, before Johansen went in alone on the Avs' netminder and gave Nashville their third unanswered goal and a 3-1 lead.

Nashville has outscored Colorado 5-2 in the second period in the series.
One Shot, One Opportunity:For the second consecutive game, the Avalanche opened the scoring by converting on their first shot of the contest.
Former Preds winger Gabriel Bourque collected a feed in the high slot and put a shot just under the glove of Pekka Rinne at 2:34. In Game 1, defenseman Nikita Zadorov puts the Avs up 1-0 at 6:36.
While Nashville's start to Game 2 was improved over Game 1, you don't need to be told that it's the results on the scoreboard that ultimately matter. The Avalanche were 36-7-4 when scoring first in the regular season. They're 0-2 in the playoffs.

For the First Time in Forever:On Saturday, the Predators did something they've never done before in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Starting on home ice for just the fifth time in the club's history, the Predators' 5-4 win over the Avalanche in Game 2 gave Nashville their first-ever 2-0 series lead earned at home. In general, the Preds most recently had a 2-0 series in the 2017 postseason when they won both games in Chicago to start their Round One series with the Blackhawks.
Room for Improvement:Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said on Friday he wanted to see his team take fewer penalties going forward.
"We have to stay out of the penalty box, I can tell you that," Laviolette said. "Their power play is terrific, so we can't go to the box. I thought we took some penalties last night that were avoidable, but that's the great thing about playoff hockey is that it's intense. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying, we have to play a disciplined brand of hockey, but playoff hockey is playoff hockey."
Nashville gave Colorado five power-play opportunities on Saturday. Although the Preds only allowed their first PPG of the series after the Avalanche had nearly two full minutes of a 5-on-3 advantage, the law of averages would say the Preds will be victimized again in the future if their repeated trips to the penalty box continue.

Up Next: Preds fans are invited to cheer on the team when they depart for Denver, Colorado, on Sunday at noon (CT). The Predators will leave via Signature Flight Support at 801 Hangar Lane. Parking is limited and will be handled by Metro Nashville Police.