Predators Potent Offense Pours in 6 Goals Against the Avalanche

The Nashville Predators continued their road trip with a stop in Denver for their second meeting of the season against the Colorado Avalanche. The Predators looked to continue their new found scoring prowess against an Avalanche team that possessed and explosive offense of their own.

Carter Hutton got the start for the Predators, while the Avalanche had Semyon Varlamov in net.

The Predators had to wonder if this was going to be one of those games where they were snake bitten as they hit three posts early in the first period.

The Predators finally broke through at 13:12 of the period as Viktor Stalberg forced a turnover off his forecheck and took a pass from behind the net from Colin Wilson and buried the shot past Varlamov for his first goal of the season.

The Avs answered back at 15:23 off a 2 on 1 break. P.A. Parenteau took a pass from Matt Duchene and beat Hutton, who had no chance on the shot. The play was set up when Seth Jones took the puck deep in the offensive zone and had his pass intercepted, starting the break for the Avs.

The Avs continued the trend of cheap shots as Jamie McGinn left his feet and boarded Seth Jones. Jones left the game and went to the locker room after the dirty hit.

On the ensuing power play, Colin Wilson dug the puck out from the side of the net and got it to Craig Smith. Smith roofed the shot over the shoulder of Varlamov and under the crossbar to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at 19:07 of the period.

Fortunately for the Predators, Jones was able to return to the game.

At the end of the first period, the Predators held a 2-1 lead and out shot the avalanche 10-9.

The Avs tied the game at 2 at 2:15 of the second period off a 3 on 2 rush. Ryan O'Reilly took a drop pass from P.A. Parenteau and fired a shot over the shoulder of Hutton to knot the game.

Just 59 seconds later, Paul Gaustad re-directed a Filip Forsberg shot to give the Predators a 3-2 lead at 3:14. Gaustad was right in front of Varlamov creating havoc and was able to get the shaft of his stick on the shot to deflect it.

The Predators extended their lead to 4-2 on the power play as Ryan Ellis faked a shot from the point and found Colin Wilson breaking in on the weak side with a perfect pass. Wilson banged the puck into the open net at 6:47 for his second goal of the year. Avery heads up play by both Ellis and Wilson.

The Avs made it 4-3 at 13:37 as Paul Stastny drove the slot and took a pass from Jamie McGinn and his wrist shot beat Hutton on the stick side.

The Predators survived a too many men on the ice penalty and exited the second period with the 4-3 lead. Shots were 9 apiece in the second.

Colorado tied the game at 4 at 4:23 as the Predators turned the puck over at the offensive blue line as fillip Forsberg lost the puck. Matt Duchene picked up the loose puck and blew into the offensive zone. Duchene split Kevin Klein and Roman Josi and beat Hutton over his shoulder.

See a trend here? The Predators gave up too many goals on odd man rushes or breakaways to this point in the game.

The Predators answered back as Viktor Stalberg stole the puck in the offensive zone and found Colin Wilson streaking toward the net. Wilson beat Varlamov with a sweet backhand to give the Predators a 5-4 lead at 7:34 of the third period.

As the period wound down, the Avs pulled Varlamov for the extra attacker. The Predators controlled the puck in the defensive zone and David Legwand got the puck to Gabriel Bourque in the neutral zone. Bourque skated in a fired the puck into the empty net for a 6-4 lead at 19:52 to seal the win.

Some observations:

• This team is beginning to play with confidence in the offensive zone. In previous seasons, this team has appeared to be unwilling to shoot the puck. This group is doing a good job of working for the open shot and more importantly taking the shot. And they have been very efficient in the offensive zone, which is a pleasant surprise.

• Viktor Stalberg had his best game as a Predator. He was active in the offensive zone, picking up a goal and an assist and played a solid defensive game as well. Hopefully, this gives him confidence and his game begins to consistently produce.

• The Predators were guilty of some very sloppy play. They gave the Avs all their goals off transitions and breakaways. Credit the Avs- they are talented and attack in waves, but the Predators are going to have to play better defense and limit turnovers.

• Who would have thought this team could- or would- be this offensively productive? In the first 3 games of this road trip, the Predators have scored 14 goals. Certainly not "offensively challenged" against some very good teams to begin this roadie.

• The Predators were without Mike Fisher, who hurt his foot in the previous game against L.A. The team also announced that Pekka Rinne has an e-coli infection in his hip and will miss 6-8 weeks instead of the 4 weeks originally estimated.

This was a solid win against one of the best teams in the NHL in this young season. More importantly, the Predators have shown some resiliency and fight by not wilting in the face of pressure from a very good opponent.

This team is beginning to show their potential and it looks promising.

They have to consistently build on that potential.

My three stars:

1. Colin Wilson

2. Viktor Stalberg

3. Matt Duchene

Predators Drop their Second Game 3-1 to the Avs

The Nashville Predators looked to rebound from a rough start in their season opening loss by getting right back on the ice against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Predators had Pekka Rinne in net while the Avalanche went with Semyon Varlomov.

Once again, the Predators opened the contest skating well and creating some chances in the offensive zone off their forecheck. Once again, though, the Predators were not able to finish their chances and were held off the board despite ten shots on goal.

The Predators gave up a late goal at 18:50 of the first period as the puck was batted around in the slot and P.A. Parenteau gathered in the rebound of a Rinne pad save and slid the puck inside the post for a 1-0 Avalanche lead. The scoring play was set up when Matt Hendricks collided violently with teammate Paul Gaustad in the offensive zone, leaving the Predators shorthanded in the defensive zone as both players struggled to get back to the bench for a change. Mattias Ekholm lost Parenteau, allowing him to slam the rebound past Rinne.

For the period, the Avs out shot the Predators 13-10.

The Predators offense struggled to get anything going in the second period as the Avs defense disrupted any flow and limited scoring chances. The Avs stepped up their forecheck and started to gain a territorial advantage over the Preds as the period unfolded.

The Predators failed to clear the zone and the Avs made them pay. Patrick Bordeleau re-directed a Nate Guenin shot from the point past Rinne at 7:54 of the period to make it 2-0.

The Predators lost defenseman Roman Josi near the 10 minute mark of the second period. The Avs Steve Downie took a blatant cheap shot, leaving his feet and launching himself at the head of Josi. Josi went to the locker room and was called out for the rest of the game with an upper body injury. The hope is that he is not concussed.

The Predators got on the board just as a power play expired. Mike Fisher carried the puck into the zone and flipped a pass into the slot. Paul Gaustad gathered in the pass a roofed a shot over the shoulder of Varlamov to make it 2-1 at 14:10 of the period.

The period ended with the Avs having a carryover power play. They out shot the Predators 12-7 in the second.

The Predators offense could not get untracked in the third period and did not create many quality scoring chances. The offensive rhythm was hampered by several penalties and general ineffectiveness. P.A. Parenteau iced the game for the Avs with his second goal of the game, an empty net goal that made the final score 3-1.

The Avs out shot the Predators 12-10 in the third period.

Some observations:

• Downie's hit was a flagrant cheap shot. While there will be ample opportunity for retribution, the bigger concern is the health of Roman Josi. The concern is that the talented defenseman has suffered a concussion.

• I like the play of the grinders. They have shown the most jump and effectiveness in the first two games. Gaustad, Clune, and Nystrom in particular are disruptive but have shown some creativity in the offensive zone.

• Rinne looked better in this game, but part of that is attributable to the fact that the defense looked better in front of him. I continue to be impressed with the poise and presence of Seth Jones. Victor Bartley was sound in the defensive zone and Mattias Ekholm has been generally good. Ek did get beat on the Avs second goal, but generally played a sound if unspectacular game.

• The Predators need more- much more- out of Colin Wilson and Patric Hornqvist. They have been invisible in the first two games and they have to get their offensive game going.

This team has the potential to be a very solid team. It is going to take time for them to gel and get their confidence.

It can't take too long.

It's time to start stepping up.

My three stars:

1. P.A. Parenteau

2. Semyon Varlamov

3. Paul Gaustad