The Colorado Avalanche will head to Nashville to battle their division rival in the Predators. Nashville has been having some issues getting its feet under them, currently ranked 31st in the league. They are a team that has a ton of talent, but just cannot get their chemistry to mix the right way. Meanwhile, Colorado is first in the league but has seen a few setbacks. Gavin Brindley did not finish the last game on Thursday. He is out with a lower-body injury. So, the Avalanche have recalled Jason Polin from the Colorado Eagles and are keeping Tristen Nielsen with the team for the moment.

Colorado Avalanche (14–1–5 33pts)

The contest between the Avalanche and the New York Rangers on Thursday looked promising. The Rangers, holding firm on the blue line, kept the Avalanche out of their zone. But once Colorado figured it out, the floodgates opened up for them. Brock Nelson helped the Avs finally get a power-play goal on his second multi-point night in a row. Cale Makar and Nathan MacKinnon both had three points, and even Scott Wedgewood tallied an assist. The point by Wedgewood was his first career NHL point. Colorado is the only team left in the NHL to have only one regulation loss on their record.

Projected Lines

Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Necas
Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Victor Olofsson
Gabriel Landeskog – Jack Drury – Jason Polin
Parker Kelly – Zakhar Bardakov – Tristen Nielsen

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Samuel Girard – Sam Malinski

Mackenzie Blackwood
Scott Wedgewood

Nashville Predators (6–10–4 16pts)

The Predators last played on Sunday in Johanneshov, Sweden, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. They played two games while in Sweden as part of the NHL Global Series, splitting the series with the Penguins. The last game was all Pittsburgh as Nashville lost with a shutout of 4–0. Goaltender Juuse Saros saw only 21 shots, allowing all the goals in the first period. The Predators have been struggling to get any points with as much talent as they have on the team. Former Avalanche Ryan O’Reilly has shown obvious frustration at the way the team has been performing.

Projected Lines

Filip Forsberg – Ryan O’Reilly – Luke Evangelista
Steven Stamkos – Erik Haula – Matthew Wood
Michael Bunting – Michael McCarron – Jonathan Marchessault
Tyson Jost – Fedor Svechkov – Ozzy Wiesblatt

Nicolas Hague – Roman Josi
Brady Skjei – Nick Perbix
Spencer Stastney – Nick Blankenburg

Juuse Saros
Justus Annunen

Game Details

Time: 6:00 p.m. MT

Watch: Altitude 2, Altitude+, FanDuel SN South (NSH), ESPN+ (out of market)

Listen: Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 FM/AM 950