Avalanche looking to finish strong
The official game preview Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators.Season series: The Nashville Predators clinched the season series against the Colorado Avalanche with a 5-2 win Feb. 24 at Bridgestone Arena behind goals from Calle Jarnkrok, Craig Smith, Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg. Predators forward Mike Ribeiro leads all scorers with six assists in the four games.
Avalanche team scope: Colorado was eliminated from playoff contention Saturday and faces a tough schedule to end the season with home games against Nashville, the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks. Following a 112-point season, the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons and has not won a playoff round since 2008.
"We've three games to go, and we're going to finish it off. We're going to go all the way," forward Gabriel Landeskog said after practice on Monday. "We're going to play as hard as we can and make sure we finish off on a good note."
Coach Patrick Roy will alternate goalies for the final three games with Semyon Varlamov starting against the Predators and Saturday against the Blackhawks. Defenseman Erik Johnson (knee) skated Monday wearing a red jersey, and Roy said he'd be surprised if Johnson plays again this season.
Predators team scope: Nashville (104 points) is in a race with the St. Louis Blues and Blackhawks for the Central Division title and home-ice advantage in the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, the Predators are 6-9-3 since Feb. 26 and have lost three straight since clinching a playoff berth on March 28. Two of their final three games are against teams outside of the postseason picture.
Forward Paul Gaustad (upper body) practiced Monday and will be evaluated before a decision is made on whether he'll play.
"It's just a practice but … there's a process that goes to getting guys back in the lineup," coach Peter Laviolette told The Tennessean. "Part of that process is getting him involved in a practice like he was today, so that's a real positive sign."
Forward Mike Santorelli (illness) was also on the ice, but forward Eric Nystrom (lower body) remains sidelined. Forwards James Neal and Matt Cullen and captain Shea Weber returned from injuries over the weekend.
-- by Jon Lane for NHL.com --
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07/04/2015 - 16:30
