The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators played three periods in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday, but they only really needed one.  The Avalanche led 5-0 heading into the first intermission and eventually ended the game with a 7-2 victory.  The teams will meet for Game 2 in Denver on Thursday.

Colorado is a heavy -374 favourite to win on the NHL odds, with a total of 6.5.

Predators vs. Avalanche NHL Playoffs Betting Odds

Game 1 was a different tale between these teams as the Predators won three of four games in the regular season series.  One consistent theme in this overall head-to-head is high scoring affairs, with the Over hitting in all five games this year.

Nashville skidded into the playoffs and they’ve now dropped five of their last six games.  They’re 44-39 against the spread this year, including 24-18 ATS on the road.  The total has gone Over in the Predators’ last six games overall and 15 of their last 17 on the road.

Colorado capitalized on home ice in Game 1 after going 32-5-4 at Ball Arena in the regular season, the second-best home record in the NHL.  They’re 40-43 ATS overall, including 23-19 ATS at home.  The total has gone Over in four of the Avalanche’s last six games overall and four of their last five at home.

The Avs are now massive -1667 favourites to win this series after heading into Game 1 at -667.  The Preds have been bumped from +373 series underdogs before Game 1 to +922 heading into Game 2.

Nashville Predators

It looked like the loss of starting goaltender Jusse Saros could be a factor heading into this series and after Game 1 it’s clear that will be the case.  Nashville ruled Saros out for at least Games 1 and 2 after the star netminder injured his leg in the last week of the regular season.  David Rittich got the start for Game 1 in place of Saros and was pulled after allowing five goals on 13 shots in the first period.  Rookie Connor Ingram settled things down in the Predators’ crease, making 30 saves on 32 shots.  Ingram has only started three career NHL games, but it’s tough to think he hasn’t earned the nod for Game 2.

One positive to take away from Game 1 for Nashville was the performance of Matt Duchene.  After setting career-highs in goals (43) and points (86) during the regular season, the former Avalanche third overall draft pick carried his success into the playoffs and scored both Predators goals.  Nashville, however, was outshot in all three periods, leading to a 45-25 shot margin for the game.  Defenceman Roman Josi, who led the team with 96 points (23G, 73A) in the regular season, was held pointless in Game 1 and finished the night minus-1.

The Predators are 0-7 when starting a best-of-7 series with a road loss.

Colorado Avalanche

After a rocky last week of the regular season, Colorado stepped on the gas in Game 1.  Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews each scored to put the Avs ahead less than three minutes into the game.  Colorado’s five-goal first period tied the franchise playoff record.  MacKinnon added a second goal in the third period, while Andrew Cogliano, Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog also scored.  MacKinnon finished the night with three points and raised his playoff points per game average to 1.41.  With a minimum of 40 games, MacKinnon’s average trails only Wayne Gretzky (1.84) and Mario Lemieux (1.61).

Darcy Kuemper finished with 23 saves for the Avalanche and will start Game 2 on his 32nd birthday.  Cogliano is questionable to play Game 2 after leaving Tuesday’s contest with an upper-body injury.  It’s unclear if Cogliano suffered a serious injury, or if Colorado kept him out for precautionary reasons because of the blowout score.

Since moving to Denver for the 1995-96 season, the Avalanche are 17-6 in a best-of-7 series when winning the first game.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Predators vs. Avalanche?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Predators Team Leaders

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

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

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Avalanche Team Leaders

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

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

Injuries

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

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

Injuries

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.

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.