Keys to Watch
Bouncing Back
Behind the stellar goaltending of Juuse Saros, the Nashville Predators played an excellent game against the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday afternoon, but the offense was unable to score. The Predators will look to bounce back tonight against a struggling Colorado team. The Avs have lost two straight (Vancouver, 3-2/Edmonton, 6-3) and will look to take advantage of the home ice and get a win tonight. The last time the two teams faced-off in Colorado, the Predators were victorious in a 5-1 win in the Mile High City. Nashville will look to duplicate their success tonight against a division rival.
Dangerous Forwards
The Colorado Avalanche are lead in points by two of the best forwards in the Western Conference in Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon leads the team in total points with fifteen (five goals, ten assists). He also leads the team with four power-play points, all of which are assists. Duchene leads the team with seven goals and is the Avs best choice for face-offs (59.1%). The Predators will need to keep these two in check tonight. The Predators, traditionally, play well in Colorado, but will need to remain consistent to get back on their winning ways against a tough road opponent.
Arvidsson’s Playing Well
Viktor Arvidsson is having, by the far, the best season of his young NHL career. In 82 total games in the NHL, the Skellefteå, Sweeden native has a modest 14 goals and 15 assists. This season, Arvidsson has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) and is playing lights out when given the opportunity. Over the last five games, he has three points (one goal, two assists). Arvidsson has been a catalyst for this team offensively, and you can never challenge his will to compete when he is on the ice. The Nashville Predators have found a gem in “Arvi”, and hopefully, he can sustain the success of this season over a full NHL season.
The Nashville Predators will look to get back to winning as they take on the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center tonight. Be sure to catch all of the action on Fox Sports-Tennessee or you can listen live on 102.5 The Game. Puck drops at 8:00 pm!
