After 82 gruelling regular-season games, the Colorado Avalanche‘s journey toward hockey’s biggest prize begins Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2022 NHL Playoffs. This series is a tale of two teams on opposite sides of the Western Conference spectrum. The Avalanche finished as the top seed, while the Predators slipped into the final wild card slot after blowing a lead to the Arizona Coyotes in the last game of the season.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators (The Hockey Writers)
Despite the 22-point discrepancy between the two clubs in the standings, all hope is not lost for John Hynes’ group. The Predators boast one of the NHL’s most dynamic blueliners and watched several forwards achieve career-highs in a number of statistical categories. Now, let’s dig into how each team can emerge victorious in this opening-round matchup.
Avalanche Forward Group Arguably NHL’s Best
Before we delve into the Avalanche’s vaunted forward group, let’s heap some praise on several Predators who enjoyed a scoring renaissance this season. After tallying only 65 points in 100 games over the previous seasons, Matt Duchene registered career-highs in goals (43) and points (86), more often resembling the player being paid $8 million a year. Both Mikael Granlund (64) and Ryan Johansen (63) eclipsed 60 points, and sniper Filip Forsberg scored at a 50-goal pace through 69 games.
Tanner Jeannot (second in hits) and Yakov Trenin (31st) add a different dimension to the Predators’ lineup, representing physical presences who could potentially unnerve the Avalanche’s collection of skilled forwards. Time and space come at a premium in the playoffs, and enacting a physical toll in exchange for those resources could be the key to Nashville’s success. Their overall group is not as deep as Colorado’s, but their blend of toughness and skill could prove to be a nuisance for an Avalanche team expecting a quick out in the first round.
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