Eurolanche

Avs open second half against Predators

Season series: The Nashville Predators defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Dec. 9. Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, who is out because of a knee injury, made 26 saves. Predators forward Filip Forsberg scored the only non-empty-net goal. Forsberg, wing Gabriel Bourque and center Mike Ribeiro had two points each.

Avalanche team scope: Coach Patrick Roy said top defenseman Erik Johnson will miss the next 3-8 weeks because of a scope on his knee. Goalie Reto Berra, who had been on a five-game conditioning assignment with Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, was at practice Monday, according to the Denver Post. Berra has not played in an NHL game since Dec. 5 and has not played a full game since Nov. 20. Left wing Patrick Bordeleau (knee), left wing Jamie McGinn (back), right wing Borna Rendulic (leg) and center Jesse Winchester (head) are out indefinitely. Colorado is 8-9-7 on the road, 8-10-5 against the Western Conference and 5-8-3 against the Central Division. Three of Colorado's past five games have gone to shootouts; the Avalanche are 1-0-2 in those games. Colorado has won one game in regulation in its past six (2-2-2). In his past three games, center Nathan MacKinnon has a goal, an assist and a shootout-winning goal. Center Ryan O'Reilly has two goals and an assist in his past four games. Goalie Semyon Varlamov is 2-1-1 in his past four games. Right wing Jarome Iginla has seven goals in his past 15 games.

Predators team scope: Rinne skated on his own before practice Monday, according to numerous reports. The Predators issued a timetable of 3-5 weeks for his return. Tuesday will mark two weeks since he was injured. The Predators recalled goalie Marek Mazanec from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League on Monday. Nashville is 1-1-1 without Rinne. Before he was injured, the Predators had not lost in regulation in nine consecutive games (7-0-2). Defenseman Ryan Ellis is expected to miss two more weeks, according to the Predators website. Nashville is 18-2-1 at Bridgestone Arena, 21-5-4 against the Western Conference and 12-3-2 against the Central Division. Center Mike Fisher needs one point for 500 in his career. In his past 22 games, center Mike Ribeiro has 22 points (five goals, 17 assists). Forward Colin Wilson has eight goals and 10 assists in his past 14 games. Defenseman Seth Jones has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past four games and is plus-4 in his past five.

-by John Manasso for NHL-