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Nashville Predators 4, Colorado Avalanche 3: Forsberg, Wilson Shine, Losing Streak Ended

Posted on by Alex Daugherty

The Nashville Predators ended their 4 game losing streak by beating the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 tonight. What could have been a snoozer was most certainly not. And if you were watching the game around the 10 minute mark of the 1st period, you know why.

The first period belonged to the Predators. After Colin Wilson got the good guys on the board first, Filip Forsberg dazzled everyone with what will undoubtedly be the goal of the year for the Predators. Though the Avs would eventually get a goal from Mikkel Boedker, the Preds were owning the game at that point and Forsberg’s play was a big, juicy exclamation point. Go watch the play again. You’ll be glad you did.

Unfortunately, the Preds momentum died after the 1st intermission. The Avs came out strong in the 2nd and Jarome Iginla, the Pred Killer, tied it up with 2 minutes left. The Preds didn’t register their first shot on Semyon Varlamov in the 2nd period until over 8 minutes in and, other than a couple of chances, had absolutely nothing working right. The Preds seemed to be asleep at the wheel since the amazing play by Forsberg.

The final period started with some swift skating and passing from Roman Josi, who found Mike Fisher wide open for the early lead. But the Avs would answer almost immediately on a tying goal by Shawn Matthias. Eventually Filip Forsberg found Craig Smith on the wing, who roofed home a frosty goal for a 4-3 lead. From there, the Preds would hold off the Avs, who needed at least 1 point to stay alive in the playoff race. The Preds fought like crazy to prevent Rinne from having to make the tough save, though he did on occasion. Rinne finished with 25 saves.

Losing streak over + dat Forsberg goal + dat Josi pass to Fisher = Merry Christmas everyone!

Random Observations

  • And your fourth line is Gaustad, Nystrom, Bass. I’m calling that the Snooze Line.
  • Colin Wilson! Slick pass from James Neal and what a roof job by Wilson. 1-0 early and the Preds are in business. Fun start to this one.
  • Well. We finally have it folks. We’ve been waiting for Filip Forsberg to score this kind of goal. What a ridiculous play. What a ridiculous talent. #TeamForsberg
  • Sigh. This is why we can’t have nice things. Rinne lets in a Mikkel Boedker shot from an impossible angle. Rattled through the 5 hole. Still, the Preds are dominating the opening frame and leading 2-1. Rinne’s made some nice plays. That wasn’t one of them.
  • Avalanche have controlled the last 10-15 minutes of play. Since the Forsberg goal, the Preds seem to be on auto-pilot, especially defensively. The Preds have spent most of the 2nd period trying to get the puck out of the zone and doing a bad job of it. Seriously, it’s been like a 10-15 minute penalty-kill. Then Iginla (who else) ties it up after another furry of offensive chances by the Avs.
  • 5v5 Corsi in the 2nd period: Avs-26, Preds-14.
  • Josi opens the 3rd period with a beauty of a pass that finds Mike Fisher wide open. Give credit to Colin Wilson, who followed his own shot, got the rebound behind the net and found Josi crashing down. Great looking play all around. Completely different 3rd period so far.
  • Preds doing a much better job advancing the puck out of the defensive and neutral zones in this 3rd period. They’ve had more consistent puck control and passing, and they seem less hesitant to use their speed to get to the outside.
  • Wild just lost. Avs need a point. Roy about to pull the goalie with over 3 minutes left. The Preds can end their post-season hopes with an empty netter.
  • Uggggh that Johansen high stick. Not great. Preds will finish the game (hopefully) while on the penalty-kill.
  • Game! Losing streak over! *high fives*
  • 5v5 Corsi in the 3rd period: Avs-12, Preds-23. And that’s with the Avs down a goal, fighting desperately for a point. Not too bad.

OTF’s Super Duper Stars of the Game

  • Filip Forsberg: 1 golazo, 1 assist. THAT’S MAH BOY!
  • Colin Wilson: Welcome to the show! You can have a seat right here next to Mr. Fisher and Mr. Arvidsson for the next few weeks.
  • Craig Smith: GWG, +4 Corsi, looked as speedy as ever out there. /

Tweets of the Night

Boxscore – Game Summary – Event Summary – War-on-Ice – HockeyStats – Natural Stat Trick

Roll the video highlights…


Talking Points