Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators: Predators Look to Avenge Previous Loss on Avalanche

• The Colorado Avalanche have won seven of their last nine games.

• The Nashville Predators have won four of their last six games.

• The Avalanche beat the Predators 5-3 when they first faced each other this season.

Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators Odds

Odds Taken from FanDuel Sportsbook.

Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators Predictions and Picks

Colorado Avalanche beat Nashville Predators 4-2 

Colorado Avalanche cover

Under 6.5 goals

Head-to-Head: Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators

Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators Predictions and Picks

The Colorado Avalanche will face the Nashville Predators in one of the best games of the day. Unsurprisingly, the Avalanche are having another strong season after winning the Stanley Cup last season. On the other side, the Predators are yet to go on a winning streak but have outplayed some of the NHL’s better teams.

The Avalanche are not sitting atop the standings but are in second place in the Central Division due to a decent offense and strong defense. Their roster is pretty well-rounded and has been without Valeri Nichushkin for most of the season. When Nichushkin returns, the Avalanche offense will vastly improve.

The Avalanche have some of the best players in the league in Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar. Mikko Rantanen has the best all-around skills on this Colorado squad. He has 13 goals and 15 assists. Rantanen is highly depended on and plays almost 22 minutes a game. Nathan MacKinnon is the premier passer in the NHL and leads the league with 22 assists. MacKinnon has a knack for finding his teammates and is an incredibly skilled passer. Cale Makar is the best defenseman on the Avalanche and one of the best in the league. Makar is only 24 years old and plays over 27 minutes a game. In addition, he has six goals and 15 assists.

The Avalanche have handed Alexandar Georgiev the goaltender keys. Georgiev has a 9-2-1 record and a .929 save percentage (the third-highest in the league). The 26-year-old saved 22 of 24 shots in his last appearance and saved all 32 shots in his appearance before that. Georgiev is not the best netminder in the NHL, but he could make a case for top-five.

The Predators have a decent squad but are not as good as the Avalanche. Their offense is slow and often scores two or fewer goals. Defensively, they usually hold opposing teams to three goals or less but have sometimes given up more than that.

The Predators do not have any stars but have some decent players in Flip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Matt Duchene, and Nido Niederreiter. Flip Forsberg leads his team with 19 points. Forsberg is especially productive with a man advantage and has seven power play assists. Roman Josi is the sole defenseman on this list; Josi has 16 points and plays almost 25 minutes a game. Matt Duchene has five goals and ten assists. Finally, we come to Nido Niederreiter. Niederriter is not much of a passer but leads the Predators with nine goals.

Juuse Saros is the main netminder in Nashville. Saros is a middle-of-the-pack goaltender and allows over three goals a game. He will need to step up if he wants to make a Playoff run.

Nashville has a decent squad but is simply outmatched in this game. Their defenseman will struggle with this matchup, and the Avalanche will win 4-2.

Why Might the Colorado Avalanche Win?

The Avalanche are the superior team but will only win if they draw penalties and slow down Nido Niederreiter. 

The Avalanche have the best power play unit in the NHL and convert on over 34% of their opportunities. Over 35% of Colorado’s goals have come with a man advantage. The Avalanche can cement their lead with a power play goal.

Nido Niederrieter is an incredibly efficient shooter. Niederreiter has nine goals on 38 shots. He is converting over 23% of his opportunities and dangerous with the puck in his hands. The Avalanche defensemen need to slow him down and force him to pass the puck.

Why Might the Nashville Predators Win?

The Predators are the apparent underdogs but can win if they shoot 35 times and play team defense.

The Predators average 30 shots a game but average a measly 2.55 goals. They are scoring on less than 10% of their opportunities, which is why they need to shoot 35 times today. If they do, they might be able to score three goals.

The Predators have solid defensemen but will need strong defense from everyone on the ice. They are facing an Avalanche squad will a bevy of scorers and will only be able to stop them if everyone steps up defensively. 

Avalanche Key Players: (RW) Mikko Rantanen

Mikko Rantanen is an incredibly talented player and coming off a two-goal game against the Vancouver Canucks. Rantanen can do it all and constantly shows why he is one of the best. This is why I have no advice for him. Rantanen just needs to keep playing his game.

Predators Key Player: (LW) Flip Forsberg

Flip Forsberg is a dangerous player but has a +/- of -8. He does not always make the correct decisions on the ice, and that needs to change today.

Forsberg must play more intelligent hockey to give his team a chance.

How to Watch Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators 

• What - Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators 

• Where - Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee

• When- Friday, November 25, 2:00 PM EST

• How to Watch - NHLPP, ESPN+