The Colorado Avalanche had a chance to make Sunday night look a whole lot different. Nashville was on the second night of a back-to-back, Colorado was coming off a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and home ice should have tilted things in the Avs’ favor.
Instead, it went the other way fast.
The Avalanche dropped a 6-2 decision to the Predators and never really found their footing. Nashville jumped out to an early two-goal lead, and that was basically the template for the night.
Colorado managed to chip away later, but by then the game had already slipped out of reach. Steven Stamkos slammed the door with a power play goal that pushed the Predators ahead 6-2 and ended any thought of a comeback.
The shot totals told the same story. Nashville finished with a 35-21 edge, a lopsided number that made it feel more like the Avalanche were the team on tired legs.
Fedor Svechkov also drew attention late in the third period, when he was benched for the entire final frame.
Sunday’s loss also fit a pattern that’s starting to stand out for Colorado. This wasn’t the first time the Avalanche have left Scott Wedgewood exposed.
Earlier this season, they lost 4-3 to the New Jersey Devils in a game that only looked close because of two late Colorado goals. That one came on the second night of a back-to-back, which at least offered an explanation.
This time, there really wasn’t one.
The biggest numbers of the night came on special teams. Nashville went 4-for-7 on the power play, and that kind of damage is hard to survive.
Even with a few of those penalties off the board, the game would have looked very different. Colorado also failed to cash in with the extra man, going 0-for-4.
That combination - too many penalties, too little production, and no real push until the game was already gone - left the Avalanche with another flat result.
Colorado now gets a few days to reset before returning home next Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils, with the prospect of Connor Hellebuyck making his Devils debut.
In Other News...
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Avalanche Were In Trouble Early For One Frustrating Reason
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Turnovers were a problem, and the power play never gave Colorado the lift it needed to get back on track. The second period brought a flurry of penalties and even a fight, but the Predators kept control anyway, leaving the Avalanche to sort through an evening that never found much rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
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Power-play chances offered no relief for Colorado, and the penalty kill was just as costly, with Nashville scoring four times with the man advantage. Ryan OReilly was at the center of it with two power-play goals and two assists, while Jack Drury added a goal against his former team, leaving the Avalanche with another road result that felt all too familiar. [Read more 🡒]