The Colorado Avalanche (17-7-2 3rd in Central) are rolling like, well, like an avalanche down a steep mountainside.
Next up are the equally scorching Nashville Predators (17-10-1 4th in Central). Both clubs enter tonight's battle with five consecutive victories and only one point separates them in the Central Division standings.
Colorado took the first meeting by a score of 6-2. Mikko Rantanen had a hat trick in that game and he comes into this game with nine points (3g 6a) in the last five games. He and Nathan MacKinnon have been hot during this recent stretch. MacKinnon has seven points (2g 5a) but he probably should have more. That man's speed is both a gift and a curse sometimes. Good problem to have.
The Avs are 4-2 versus the Central and still have 2-3 games in hand on everybody except Dallas. Tonight's game is a biggie and three-point games aren't welcome - if the game happens at all.
The Preds are riding a five-game winning streak of its own, but the competition isn't much to write home about. the only quality team they faced was the NY Rangers and they held on for a 1-0 victory. Nashville's last game against Calgary was PPD because of the dreaded Covid-monster which is rearing its ugly head again.
The Preds currently have a slew of players in Covid-19 protocol.
The #Preds have six players and six members of its traveling party in COVID-19 protocol >> https://t.co/LU97TUHnOQ
— Nashville Predators PR (@PredsPR) December 15, 2021
The 'Avs are dealing with some of that themselves. Defenseman Devon Toews is out because of a positive Covid test. It's a shame because Toews has been on a tear and further breaking the hearts of Islander fans everywhere. It's just the latest punch to the chin for the resilient Avalanche.
Just a few more quick notes:
- Darcy Kuemper is 4-0 in his last four starts with a 2.50 GAA and .922 save percentage.
- Per ESPN the 'Avs current injury situation is as follows:
Bowen Byram: day to day (upper body), Devon Toews: day to day (health and safety protocols), Gabriel Landeskog: out (lower-body), Nazem Kadri: day to day (lower body), Ryan Murray: day to day (lower body)
- Colorado is 7-2-1 in its last 10 games and is averaging 4.7 goals per game. That's pretty good. The 3.5 goals per game they are allowing is not. Imagine if they could tighter that up? Yowzer.
Thanks for reading, Steve