Avalanche, Predators both need a win
One team is coming off a lost weekend. The other is coming off a lost homestand. So things could be salty Tuesday night at Bridgestone Arena as the Colorado Avalanche start a four-game road trip against the Nashville Predators in their third meeting in five weeks. While Colorado (9-13-1) finished an 0-4-1 homestand Saturday night with a 3-0 loss to Dallas, Nashville (11-9-4) ate a 4-2 defeat Sunday to Philadelphia, wrapping up an 0-1-1 weekend. Making that more galling was that the Predators blew a 4-1 third-period lead Saturday against New Jersey, losing 5-4 in overtime. "A couple of mistakes and two or three minutes cost us (Saturday)," Nashville defenseman Roman Josi said. "I thought we played a pretty good game and deserved to win (Sunday). Our special teams have got to be better -- on the penalty kill and the power play." The Predators' penalty kill, which was flawless at home until giving up the game-tying goal Saturday, coughed up two markers to the Flyers' Wayne Simmonds on Sunday. Nashville also failed on two power-play opportunities in the first period and didn't receive another one for the game's remainder. It was a 180-degree turnaround from the way most of the season has gone at home, where the Predators were 8-1-1 and outscoring the opposition 39-14 before the third period on Saturday. "Everyone needs the points, no matter where you are in the standings," left winger Filip Forsberg said. "The inspiration level needs to be higher from the start, and even in the last periods." The Avalanche's arrival in town could be the elixir Nashville needs. The Predators beat Colorado 5-1 and 5-3 last month, which constitute two-thirds of their victories away from Nashville. While the Avalanche are 5-5-0 on the road, their upcoming trip might not provide much reason for optimism. Their other stops are Boston, Montreal and Toronto. "Just playing horrible hockey," center Nathan MacKinnon said. "It starts with us key guys. All of us need to be better." Adding injury to repeated insult, defenseman Erik Johnson suffered a broken fibula after blocking a shot in the second period Saturday night and will miss 6-8 weeks. To replace Johnson, Colorado called up defenseman Cody Goloubef from its AHL affiliate in San Antonio. What's more, the Avalanche remain without captain Gabriel Landeskog (lower-body injury), who skated at practice Monday and will make the trip but will miss his ninth straight game Tuesday night. Colorado has managed just 49 goals in 22 matches and is putting only 29.2 shots on net per game. "We all want to make a difference, but unfortunately we're not getting it done," forward Jarome Iginla said. Semyon Varlamov (5-11-0, 3.02) will get the start in net for the Avalanche, while Pekka Rinne (10-5-4, 2.18) figures to get the call for Nashville. Rinne was the NHL's First Star for November but allowed five goals on just 22 shots against New Jersey. This is the last game of a three-game homestand for the Predators, who head to Dallas on Thursday and Arizona on Saturday. |