The Avalanche got out to a strong start, which the Preds defended valiantly. About halfway through the period, Andrew Cogliano cross-checked Cody Glass to the ground after a faceoff, and Glass eventually retaliated, causing a four-on-four situation. The teams exchanged looks, then Nashville surged as the penalized players were released, with Glass and Tommy Novak leading the rush.
Alexandar Georgiev had to make a series of saves in rapid succession as the Preds finally got some offense going, but he was up to the task, and the Avs retaliated. Play went end to end for several minutes before Glass finished off a great play started by Ryan McDonagh, and got one past Georgiev to put the Preds on the board at 15:17.
Nathan MacKinnon got it right back, capitalizing on a turnover to make it 1-1 at 17:01. The period ended on a hostile note, as Zach Parise had taken a few hits late and his teammates didn’t much care for it; the second period started on the same note, with the addition of some great shots from the Avs’ top line.
From there, the Preds regrouped, getting some time in the Avs’ zone and eventually getting a power-play opportunity when Jeremy Lauzon drew a holding penalty with some great skating. The Avs killed the penalty off easily, but the Preds didn’t let up, and Glass notched his–and the Preds’–second of the game a few minutes later, at 14:26.
The Avs got a power play of their own a few minutes later, as Roman Josi committed a hold, but the Preds were able to kill it off and went right to the counterattack as Josi was released from the box. Again Georgiev had to be sharp, but he was.
MacKinnon tried to make the same play he had the previous period, in alone on Juuse Saros, but this time Saros was able to snag the puck out of the air and hold the lead. Time ran down and the third period began. A good Nashville attempt was followed up by a desperate Avalanche press, putting the Preds on the ropes. A smart clear from Luke Evangelista got them one break, and a high-stick against Michael McCarron got them another.
The Preds’ power play started well, and finished with a Ryan O’Reilly goal from in tight to make it 3-1 at 9:46. Nashville continued to play well and with determination, keeping possession and not trying to coast, and got another power play when Gustav Nyquist drew a penalty from Jack Johnson. While the Avs got an early clear, the Preds didn’t give up, and Tommy Novak faked a pass and scored with seven seconds remaining in the power play and under three minutes remaining in the period.
Georgiev headed for the bench as the Avs put on the extra attacker, and a Yakov Trenin empty-net attempt deflected off of one of his own teammates. Saros made a pair of phenomenal saves on Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen as the Avs swarmed back in, and Kiefer Sherwood cleared the puck just wide of the empty net.
The crowd rose to their feet, cheering and clapping, as the Avs took their time-out with 1:11 to go in the third. Enthusiasm soared even higher as Glass completed his hat trick into the empty net at 19:08. Georgiev returned to the net, but the Avs didn’t completely give up; Saros had to make another quick save with eight seconds to go.