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Predators vs. Avalanche Series Preview: Game Schedule & Matchup Overview

Posted on by Alex Daugherty

It’s official! The Predators will face the Avalanche in the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Today, David Poile and Peter Laviolette held a press conference addressing the playoff series and other items. We received an update on Calle Jarnkrok (he’s day-to-day), as well as we received the full schedule from the Predators website:

All times Central time

  • Game 1: Thursday, April 12 at 8:30 p.m. – Avalanche at Predators at Bridgestone Arena
  • Game 2: Saturday, April 14 at 2 p.m. – Avalanche at Predators at Bridgestone Arena
  • Game 3: Monday, April 16 at 9 p.m. – Predators at Avalanche at Pepsi Center
  • Game 4: Wednesday, April 18 at 9 p.m. – Predators at Avalanche at Pepsi Center
  • *Game 5: Friday, April 20 at TBD – Avalanche at Predators at Bridgestone Arena
  • *Game 6: Sunday, April 22 at TBD – Predators at Avalanche at Pepsi Center
  • *Game 7: Tuesday, April 24 at TBD – Avalanche at Predators at Bridgestone Arena/

*If necessary

While we digest the schedule, but before we jump into more deeper analysis, here’s a glance at some stats and players to keep in mind ahead of this series.

Team Comparison at Even-Strength

Colorado Avalanche

  • 3.1 goals per game, all situations (10th)
  • 47.4% Corsi-For (29th)
  • 48.2% scoring chances for (22nd)
  • 46.4% high danger chances for (30th)
  • 46.1% expected goals for (29th)
  • Team shooting percentage: 9.3% (6th)
  • Team save percentage: 91.9% (8th)/

Nashville Predators

  • 3.2 goals per game, all situations (8th)
  • 51.1% Corsi-For (12th)
  • 49.4% scoring chances for (17th)
  • 48.8% high danger chances for (18th)
  • 50.9% expected goals for (15th)
  • Team shooting percentage: 8.9% (12th)
  • Team save percentage: 93.2% (1st) /

Special Teams Comparison

Colorado Avalanche

  • Penalty kill: 111.7 shot attempts allowed per sixty minutes (28th), success rate 83.3%
  • Power play: 89.6 shot attempts for per sixty minutes (31st), success rate 21.9%
  • Penalty differential (penalties drawn – penalties taken): 26 (6th) /

Nashville Predators

  • Penalty kill: 99.1 shot attempts allowed per sixty minutes (8th) , success rate 81.9%
  • Power play: 103.3 shot attempts for per sixty minutes (15th), success rate 21.1%
  • Penalty differential (penalties drawn – penalties taken): -28 (25th) /

Key Players for the Avs

  • Nathan Mackinnon: 97 points (39 goals, 58 assists) plus leads the team in Corsi-For percentage among players with at least 200 minutes. Should be a Hart Trophy finalist and is far and away the Avalanche’s best player. Arguably the best player in the entire series.
  • Mikko Rantanen: 29 goal scorer who also has 55 assists. The 2nd half of Mackinnon who has plenty of speed and skill.
  • Tyson Barrie: With Erik Johnson out, Barrie is their top defenseman. 57 points (including 14 goals) and has 30 points on the power play this season.
  • Gabriel Landeskog: 62 points (25 goals, 37 assists) and should pair with Mackinnon and Rantanen.
  • Alex Kerfoot: 19 goal scorer in the middle six. Shooting 23.5% this season.
  • Nikita Zadorov: Barrie’s defensive partner. Leads the team in hits with 278.
  • Tyson Jost: 19-year-old winger with plenty of speed and 13 goals this season.
  • Samuel Girard: We’ve heard of him! 20 points in 68 games this season. Should play on the 2nd pairing with Patrik Nemeth.
  • Jonathan Bernier: By all accounts, he will be the starting goaltender with Semyon Varlamov out. He has a .917 save percentage in 37 games this season. He also has a .917 save percentage in 14 career games against Nashville. /

All stats via NHL.com, naturalstattrick.com, and corsica.hockey, and are even-strength unless otherwise stated

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