Sunday, April 22, 2018

Central Division Playoffs: 1) Nashville Predators v. 4) Colorado Avalanche

The Stanley Cup Playoffs start now, with divisional round series. Each post will contain the entire series.

Game 1: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Jonathan Bernier for the Avalanche and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Colorado started in the first period with a Nikita Zadorov goal, made possible by Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon. Nashville tied it in the second period with an Austin Watson goal, via Colton Sissons and Ryan Johansen. The Avalanche retook the lead with a Blake Comeau goal, guided in by Carl Soderberg and Matt Nieto. The Predators retied it on a Craig Smith power play goal, powered by Johansen. Nashville took the lead in the third period with a Filip Forsberg goal, fueled by Roman Josi and Viktor Arvidsson. The Predators added on with an unassisted Forsberg goal, his second of the game. Nashville iced it at 5-2 with a Sissons empty net goal, set up by Watson and Josi. The three stars went to Forsberg, Watson, and Sissons, while Josi and Johansen receive honorable mentions. Nashville takes a 1-0 series lead with this win.

Game 2: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Jonathan Bernier for the Avalanche and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Colorado led off in the first period with a Gabriel Bourque goal, assisted by J.T. Compher and Colin Wilson. Nashville tied it in the second period on a Kevin Fiala power play goal, powered by Colton Sissons and Kyle Turris. The Predators took the lead with an unassisted Viktor Arvidsson goal. Nashville added on with a Ryan Johansen goal, fueled by Mattias Ekholm and P.K. Subban. The Avalanche pulled one back on a Nathan MacKinnon goal, coming off of Nikita Zadorov. The Predators replied with an Austin Watson goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Fiala and Nick Bonino. Colorado got one back with a Gabriel Landeskog power play goal, with assists provided by MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie. Nashville countered with a Ryan Hartman empty net goal, set up by Subban and Ekholm. The Avalanche made it interesting with an Alexander Kerfoot goal, helped along by Landeskog and Barrie. Still, they lost 5-4, with the three stars being Fiala, MacKinnon, and Landeskog, while Barrie, Ekholm, and Subban get the honorable mentions. The Predators head west ahead in the series 2-0.

Game 3: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Jonathan Bernier for the Avalanche. Colorado opened in the first period with a Blake Comeau goal, his second of the postseason, via Carl Soderberg and Matt Nieto. The Avalanche added on with a Gabriel Bourque goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Patrik Nemeth and J.T. Compher. Colorado extended the lead as Nathan MacKinnon scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche padded the lead in the second period with another MacKinnon goal, his second of the game and third of the playoffs, passed from Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. Nashville got on the board with a Ryan Johansen power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Filip Forsberg and Ryan Ellis. The Predators got closer with a Colton Sissons goal, his second of the playoffs, helped along by Roman Josi and Ellis. Colorado answered with a Landeskog empty net goal, his second of the postseason, set up by Rantanen and Mark Barberio. Nashville pulled back with an Austin Watson goal, his third of the playoffs, going in unassisted. This only made it 5-3, the final, with the three stars given to MacKinnon, Landeskog, and Rantanen, while Ellis gets an honorable mention. The Predators still have a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Jonathan Bernier for the Avalanche. Nashville began in the first period with a Filip Forsberg goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Ryan Johansen and Mattias Ekholm. The Predators added on with a Colton Sissons goal in the second period, his third of the playoffs, via Forsberg and Ekholm. Nashville extended the lead as Craig Smith scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Austin Watson. Colorado got on the board in the third period with a Gabriel Landeskog power play goal, his third of the playoffs, powered by Tyson Jost and Tyson Barrie. The Avalanche got closer with an Alexander Kerfoot goal, his second of the postseason, fueled by Matt Nieto and Nikita Zadorov. This only made it 3-2, the final, with the three stars being Forsberg, Ekholm, and Smith. The Predators head home with a 3-1 series lead.

Game 5: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Andrew Hammond for the Avalanche and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Nashville dented the scoreboard in the third period with a Nick Bonino goal, assisted by Mattias Ekholm and Austin Watson. Colorado tied it on a Gabriel Landeskog goal, his fourth of the postseason, guided in by Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen. The Avalanche took the lead with a Sven Andrighetto goal, helped along by J.T. Compher and Tyson Barrie. This gave them a 2-1 win, with the three stars awarded to Hammond (44 for 45 in saves), Andrighetto, and Landeskog. The series heads west again with the Predators' lead chopped to 3-2. 

Game 6: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Andrew Hammond for the Avalanche. Nashville struck first in the first period with a Mattias Ekholm goal, coming off of Colton Sissons and Nick Bonino. The Predators added on with an Austin Watson goal, his fourth of the postseason, via Sissons and Bonino. Nashville extended the lead as Filip Forsberg scored his fourth of the playoffs in the second period, going in unassisted. The Predators padded the lead as Bonino scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Calle Jarnkrok and Ryan Ellis. Nashville kept going in the third period with a Viktor Arvidsson goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist by P.K. Subban. This made it 5-0, the final, with the three stars awarded to Bonino, Sissons, and Rinne (22 save shutout). The Predators will face the Winnipeg Jets in the second round.

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