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Nashville Predators 4, Colorado Avalanche 9: What the Heck

The Avalanche played tonight’s game on NHL20 on “Rookie” mode and the Predators were...also there. Maybe.

The Predators were the victim of another slow start tonight. The Avalanche scored with less than a minute gone in the first period on a beautiful shot by Cale Makar.

Colorado continued to pressure on an early power play with Ryan Johansen in the box. Nazem Kadri was whistled for interference to even the play at 4-on-4.

Ryan Ellis found the tying marker with just under 8 minutes remaining in the first period. After a really awful penalty call on Austin Watson, the Predators were unable to stop Colorado’s second goal while down two men on the penalty kill.

The Predators also couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, and Roman Josi was whistled for cross-checking to put the visiting team down by two men again.

The Predators were able to kill off the remainder of Josi’s penalty to begin the second period. Filip Forsberg found Nashville’s second marker of the game on a trickling puck as soon as the teams returned to even strength. Colorado was finally handed a penalty and the Predators were able to capitalize with a Matt Duchene power play goal to take their first and only lead of the game.

The Avalanche quickly tied the game back up with a goal by Joonas Donskoi. Less than 20 seconds later, Ryan Graves wired a seeing-eye puck past Pekka Rinne for Colorado’s fourth tally. Andre Burakovsky notched a fifth goal for the Avalanche with 13 minutes remaining in the second period.

With Juuse Saros replacing Pekka Rinne in net, Matt Nieto found the back of the net on a shorthanded chance for Colorado’s sixth of the game. Matt Calvert scored a ridiculous seventh goal for the high-octane Avalanche right at the 10 minute mark of the second period.

The Predators seemed completely unable to respond at all. The Avalanche added an eighth goal from Erik Johnson.

The Preds had no more backup goalies to put in—Chris Mason remained in the broadcast booth—but we had a backup recapper, as Kate came in in relief of Rachel for the third.

Like Rachel, Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Zadorov did not return after intermission—in their case because of what the Avalanche reported as “upper-body injuries”. Zadorov had actually left earlier in the game.

Speaking of injuries, Mark Barberio decided to punch Rocco Grimaldi in the face, and the Preds got a power play with just a couple of minutes elapsed in the third. It was not great and did not convert. Score effects were alive and well as the game continued, with the Avalanche comfortably able to defend the higher-danger areas and the Predators desperate and discombobulated.

About halfway through the third, the JOFA line was able to get some sustained pressure in the Avs’ end, as well as the team’s sixteenth through eighteenth total shots on goal. Viktor Arvidsson was sent flying into the net and was slow to get up, because that’s exactly what this game needed for the team that didn’t have the luxury of pulling its stars for garbage time. Arvidsson did skate off under his own power.

Craig Smith got Preds fans Frostys with a post-and-in shot off a pass from Nick Bonino with a little more than seven minutes left in the game. At least we’ll have frozen chocolate.

Matt Duchene took a penalty with 2:39 left in the game, giving the Avalanche another chance to run up the score. Colton Sissons had a nice little shorthanded chance, but Joonas Donskoi got back and completed the hat trick.

The Predators allowed nine goals-against in a single game for the first time in franchise history. Uh, let’s have another pet picture (and some good news, because I definitely misread what Caroline said there!):

Excellent news!

One of the hats remained on the ice for a bit after play resumed.

Play eventually concluded. Arvidsson missed the JOFA line’s last three shifts; hopefully he’ll be all right again soon.

I was not able to include all the fantastic pet pictures our followers on Twitter shared, so by all means go check them out.

Random Observations

  • That’s not a good way to start the game, Preds.
  • The Colorado third jerseys are pretty cool.
  • Posts! But...a post and a goal!
  • Some questionable penalties against Nashville in the first. Yuck.
  • Prince Fil of Game-Tying Goals
  • Avalanche fans are not happy.
  • This game escalated quickly.
  • What is happening???????
  • Hello, Juuse Saros.
  • I am done with this game and so are the Predators.
  • Preds, y'all good? Or...?
  • Ron Howard Narrator Voice: They were not good.
  • (Thanks to Scott Matla of Habs Eyes on the Prize for suggesting a puppy picture recap!)
  • It’s the third period and the Preds still only have fourteen shots on goal and not that many more missed, if you were wondering.
  • Oh goody, fifteen.
  • Craig Smith lives!/

Super Duper Stars of the Game

Ha, lol.

Tweets of the Game

Game Video

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