Nashville Predators @ Colorado Avalanche Preview: Back on Track

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After a third period meltdown against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, the Nashville Predators will look to regroup as they go on the road to face the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche, with 64 points, are out of playoff contention and are currently on a 3-game losing streak, but with the playoff race as tight as it is in the West, and the Ducks and Kings playing as well as they are, Nashville can't afford to get caught sleeping on this team, or they'll pay for it. Every point matters going into April, and the Predators have a great opportunity tonight against a struggling hockey club whose season is just about over.

Follow after the jump for projected lineups and a few keys to the game:

Projected lineups:

Colorado

Duchene-Stastny-Hejduk
Jones-O'Reilly-Winnik
Stoa-McClement-Porter
McLeod-Olver-Koci

Johnson-Liles
O'Byrne-Hunwick
Gaunce-Holos

And in net:

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Nashville

Keys to the game:

Back to winning: Nashville's loss to Vancouver snapped a 6-game winning streak, and the Predators need to get back on track, especially with the Detroit Red Wings coming to town on Saturday, fresh off of a 10-3 drubbing by the St. Louis Blues. If Nashville wants to make the playoffs, they need to win their games against less-than-stellar opponents, and this one certainly falls under that category.

Play 60 minutes: Is it cliche to say? Yes. But there's a reason that every coach preaches this, and Nashville saw why on Tuesday night. The Predators came out flat in the third period and they eventually payed for it, as Alex Burrows scored the go-ahead goal on a defensive lapse. Nashville is the better team tonight, and if they play hard for 60 minutes, they'll come out with the 2 points.

 

For coverage from the Avalanche perspective, check out Mile High Hockey.