It was a tale of two games between Game 1 and Game 2 of this first-round playoff series between the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators, although it ended with the same result.  After blowing out the Preds 7-2 in Game 1 on Monday, Colorado was pushed to the brink in Game 2 on Thursday, eventually winning the game 2-1 in overtime.  The series shifts to Nashville for Game 3 on Saturday.

The Avalanche come into Game 3 as -236 favourites to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.5.

Avalanche vs. Predators NHL Betting Odds

Thursday’s matchup was the third time in six total meetings between these teams this year to need extra time to solve.  Colorado leads 2-0 in the playoff series, but it was actually the Predators who won three of four regular season meetings.  Game 2 was also the first meeting between the teams this year to finish Under the total.

After stumbling near the end of the regular season, the Avs improved to 12-6 straight up over their last 18 games.  This is a high scoring team, but it’s worth noting that four of Colorado’s last five road games have gone Under.  The Avalanche are massive -5000 favourites to win this series.  They’re also +100 favourites to win the Western Conference.

It’s been a struggle for the Preds as they have dropped six of their last seven games and enter Game 2 in an 0-2 hole in this series.  High scoring games have been a theme as Nashville has hit the Over in six of their last seven games overall and four of their last five at home.  The Predators are +1328 underdogs to win this series and they have the longest odds to win the Western Conference by far at +7500.

Colorado Avalanche

After the offence exploded in game 1, it was goaltender Darcy Kuemper‘s turn to step up in Game 2, although he didn’t face an overwhelming amount of shots.  Kuemper made 19 saves through regulation and another six in overtime to backstop the Avs to a win on his 32nd birthday.  Nathan MacKinnon scored on the first shot of the game, while Cale Makar was the overtime hero.  MacKinnon has four points (3G, 1A) through two games of this series and 73 points (31G, 42A) in 52 career playoff games.  Colorado outshot Nashville 51-26 overall, including 21-4 in the second period alone.  The Avalanche thought they scored near the end of the second period, but Valeri Nichushkin‘s goal was called back because Artturi Lehkonen fell on Nashville’s goalie, Connor Ingram.

The physical intensity escalated in Game 2 as the teams combined for 110 hits.  It wasn’t a great power play night, however, as the teams were a combined 0 for 8 with the man advantage.  Since moving to Denver, the Avalanche are 14-2 in a best-of-seven playoff series when winning the first two games.

Nashville Predators

The Predators had a solid first period in Game 2 and outshot the Avs 11-8 in the frame, but couldn’t sustain the pressure for the rest of the game.  Yakov Trenin had Nashville’s lone goal, while Ingram had a monster 49-save effort in net.  The 25-year-old rookie is starting in place of the injured Juuse Saros, who is out with a lower-body injury.  Ingram, who relived David Rittich after a disastrous Game 1 performance, will get the start again in Game 3.  With only three career regular season NHL starts under his belt, Ingram spent most of this season with AHL Milwaukee, posting a 30-17-9 record.

Roman Josi set up Trenin’s goal in Game 2, giving him 31 career postseason assists, which ties Ryan Ellis for the franchise record.  Josi and the rest of the Predators put their bodies on the line, blocking 34 Colorado shots.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Avalanche vs. Predators?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

NAS

Points	Roman Josi 96
+ / -	Alexandre Carrier 26
Shots	Roman Josi 281
Penalty Mins	Mark Borowiecki 151
Wins	Juuse Saros 38
GAA	Juuse Saros 2.64

COL

Points	Cale Makar 29
+ / -	Bowen Byram 15
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 117
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 20
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 10
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.57

NAS

Points	Matt Duchene 4
+ / -	Matt Duchene 1
Shots	Roman Josi 21
Penalty Mins	Mathieu Olivier 12
Wins	Matt Benning 0
GAA	Connor Ingram 3.64

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Predators Team Leaders

COL

Points	Mikko Rantanen 92
+ / -	Devon Toews 52
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 299
Penalty Mins	Kurtis MacDermid 89
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 37
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.54

NAS

Points	Roman Josi 96
+ / -	Alexandre Carrier 26
Shots	Roman Josi 281
Penalty Mins	Mark Borowiecki 151
Wins	Juuse Saros 38
GAA	Juuse Saros 2.64

COL

Points	Cale Makar 29
+ / -	Bowen Byram 15
Shots	Nathan MacKinnon 117
Penalty Mins	Artturi Lehkonen 20
Wins	Darcy Kuemper 10
GAA	Darcy Kuemper 2.57

NAS

Points	Matt Duchene 4
+ / -	Matt Duchene 1
Shots	Roman Josi 21
Penalty Mins	Mathieu Olivier 12
Wins	Matt Benning 0
GAA	Connor Ingram 3.64

Injuries

Colorado

Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

Ques Sun Lower Body - 26 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Ques Tues Hand - 19 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Prob Wed Lower Body - 12 / 06 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Prob Sat Hand - 07 / 06 / 22

Andre Burakovsky (LW)

Ques Mon Leg - 02 / 06 / 22

Darcy Kuemper (G)

Ques Mon Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 22

Gabriel Landeskog (LW)

Prob Tues Knee - 30 / 05 / 22

Samuel Girard (D)

out for season Chest - 21 / 05 / 22

Darcy Kuemper (G)

Prob Tues Eye - 07 / 05 / 22

Andrew Cogliano (C)

Prob Tues Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22

Nashville

Mark Borowiecki (D)

Ques Wed Undisclosed - 07 / 05 / 22

Jeremy Lauzon (D)

Ques Thurs Leg - 16 / 04 / 22

Mark Borowiecki (D)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 14 / 04 / 22

Matt Luff (RW)

Ques Sat Illness - 14 / 04 / 22

Michael McCarron (RW)

Ques Sat Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 22

Mark Borowiecki (D)

Ques Tues Face - 10 / 04 / 22

Mark Borowiecki (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 25 / 03 / 22

Tanner Jeannot (LW)

Ques Sun Personal - 24 / 03 / 22

Dante Fabbro (D)

Out indefinitely Upper Body - 22 / 03 / 22

Matt Benning (D)

Prob Sun Upper Body - 15 / 03 / 22

Injuries

Colorado

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Valeri Nichushkin (RW)	Ques Sun	Lower Body - 26 / 06 / 22	0-1	0-1	+ -
Nichushkin is tending to a lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he will face the Lighting in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Ques Tues	Hand - 19 / 06 / 22	2-2	2-2	+ -
Burakovsky is dealing with a hand injury, and it is unknown if he will play in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Lightning.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Prob Wed	Lower Body - 12 / 06 / 22	2-4	4-2	+ -
Burakovsky is battling a lower-back injury, but it is anticipated that he will lace up for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Lightning.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Prob Sat	Hand - 07 / 06 / 22	2-4	4-2	+ -
Cogliano is managing a hand injury, but it is likely that he will participate in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final versus the Lightning.
Andre Burakovsky (LW)	Ques Mon	Leg - 02 / 06 / 22	5-4	5-4	+ -
Burakovsky is bothered by right leg injury, and it has yet to be determined if he will face the Oilers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Darcy Kuemper (G)	Ques Mon	Upper Body - 31 / 05 / 22	5-5	5-5	+ -
Kuemper is tending to an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals versus the Oilers.
Gabriel Landeskog (LW)	Prob Tues	Knee - 30 / 05 / 22	5-5	5-5	+ -
Landeskog is expected to lace up for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals versus the Oilers despite a knee issue.
Samuel Girard (D)	out for season	Chest - 21 / 05 / 22	7-7	8-6	+ -
Girard suffered a fractured sternum and will miss the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Darcy Kuemper (G)	Prob Tues	Eye - 07 / 05 / 22	9-9	10-8	+ -
Kuemper is tending to a eye injury, but it is likely that he will be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.
Andrew Cogliano (C)	Prob Tues	Upper Body - 04 / 05 / 22	10-10	11-9	+ -
Cogliano is managing an upper-body issue, but it is expected that he will be available against the Blues for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round versus the Blues.

Nashville

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Mark Borowiecki (D)	Ques Wed	Undisclosed - 07 / 05 / 22	1-1	1-1	+ -
Borowiecki is hampered by a unknown injury, and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 5 of the Western Conference first round against the Avalanche.
Jeremy Lauzon (D)	Ques Thurs	Leg - 16 / 04 / 22	5-7	9-3	+ -
Lauzon is dealing with a leg injury, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up against the Avalanche in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.
Mark Borowiecki (D)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 14 / 04 / 22	5-8	9-4	+ -
Borowiecki sat out the previous contest due to an upper-body injury, and it has yet to be established if he will be available against the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Matt Luff (RW)	Ques Sat	Illness - 14 / 04 / 22	5-8	9-4	+ -
Luff has been absent from the previous four games due to an illness, and it remains to be seen if he will suit up against the Lightning on Saturday.
Michael McCarron (RW)	Ques Sat	Upper Body - 13 / 04 / 22	5-8	9-4	+ -
McCarron has sat out the last four games with an upper-body injury, and it is unclear he will play against the Lightning on Saturday.
Mark Borowiecki (D)	Ques Tues	Face - 10 / 04 / 22	6-9	9-6	+ -
Borowiecki was lifted from the last game with a facial injury, and it remains to be seen if he will take on the Sharks on Tuesday.
Mark Borowiecki (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 25 / 03 / 22	8-14	14-8	+ -
Borowiecki is sidelined with an upper-body injury, and his status is week-to-week moving forward.
Tanner Jeannot (LW)	Ques Sun	Personal - 24 / 03 / 22	8-14	14-8	+ -
Jeannot was absent from the previous contest due to a personal matter, and it is undetermined if he will dress for Sunday's matchup with the Flyers.
Dante Fabbro (D)	Out indefinitely	Upper Body - 22 / 03 / 22	10-14	16-8	+ -
Fabbro is out of action with an upper-body injury, and he will miss an undetermined length of time.
Matt Benning (D)	Prob Sun	Upper Body - 15 / 03 / 22	12-15	18-9	+ -
Benning has been activated from the injured reserve list after recovering from an upper-body injury, and he is likely to return to the ice until against the Flyers on Sunday.