Hard-fought loss pushes Avalanche to brink of elimination

There was a tension leading into game four tonight between the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators as the outcome was going to drastically change the course of the series. With Nashville up 2-1 in wins, it was either Colorado finds a win and this series becomes a potential disaster for the President Trophy winning Predators or Nashville wins and takes a stranglehold on a series they didn’t expect to be competitive.

Hot starts have been Colorado’s thing so far in this series as they scored first each of the first three games but they came out tonight and did everything they could to make that as difficult as possible to repeat. They took two penalties in the opening minutes giving Nashville a five-on-three power play for over a minute. Colorado eventually killed it off but the momentum was all Nashville’s by that point and they ended up owning the first period as a result.

Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier raised his level to one we haven’t seen so far in this series and stonewalled Nashville’s relentless assault on his net. Filip Forsberg became the man to take the lid off when he took a Colorado turnover and raced down the ice and overwhelmed poor Duncan Siemens before easily beating a diving Bernier for the game’s first goal.

Nashville took their one-goal lead into the second period with all the momentum and all the warm fuzzies imaginable. It turns out those fuzzies mattered in this one as the Predators converted their momentum in actual production.

While still owning the pace of play, Nashville caused turnovers and general mayhem in Colorado’s zone and Forsberg continued feeling it and made a great pass to Colton Sissons, who beat Bernier for his third goal of the series and pushed the Predators ahead 2-0.

That score didn’t last long as Colorado had four minutes of Ryan Hartman penalties handed to them and two of Sven Andrighetto’s to contend with after an odd exchange of spearing and stick-holding. That put Craig Smith in the penalty box for one of Hartman’s penalties, a decision from Predators coach Peter Laviolette that would turn out nicely for him.

With Colorado’s power play lethargic and lacking cohesion, their own sloppy play turned into a clean look for Smith as he stepped out of the box. He gathered the puck in and flew down the left side of the ice and beat Bernier cleanly on a shot that Bernier has struggled to stop all series. That put Nashville ahead 3-0 and seemingly iced the game.

Except nobody told the Avalanche.

Despite being down three and losing Bernier to injury after the second period, Andrew Hammond led this injury-ravaged group onto the ice to play out the string of a game the Avalanche had no business in.

It started with two penalties being called on Nashville at the same time, giving Colorado a full two-minute five-on-three advantage. Colorado made lemonade with lemons as the Tysons, Barrie and Jost, combined on a beautiful passing play to find Gabe Landeskog in front of the net to cut the lead to 3-1.

It wouldn’t be a game in this series without some seriously questionable officiating and tonight was no different. After a series of headshots, including one that removed Carl Soderberg from the game, Colorado found themselves on the right side of the men in stripes.

Alexander Kerfoot put a puck home after Rinne’s left pad appeared to be on the receiving end of interference from Blake Comeau that sprang the puck loose. The review was brief and the goal ultimately stood, making it 3-2.

The final few minutes were as exciting as they could be and Colorado’s predictable heartbreak was capped when Colin Wilson hit the post in the game’s dying moments. Nashville didn’t find any stat-padding tonight and the final stood at 3-2 and they moved ahead 3-1 in the series.

Nashville will have a chance to eliminate the Avalanche on Friday evening back in Nashville.

POSTGAME QUOTES

Colorado LW Gabriel Landeskog
On Tonight’s Game: “They get a 5-on-3 off the bat and we kind of get on the wrong
side of things. It felt like the whole first period, they were basically in our zone. It
started with a 5-on-3, and it just kind of fed for their momentum and they kept pushing.
It wasn’t the start we wanted. You know, they get a couple of odd-man rushes that
they capitalize on, a couple turnovers. I mean, Nate (Colorado C Nathan MacKinnon)
hits the post or the crossbar or whatever, it’s 2-0, that’d be a great chance with half the
game left, had a little more time than 3-0 deficit and try to come back in the third
period. Obviously, in the third period, I think that’s a great period for us, but too little,
too late.”
On Colorado’s Late Push: “It goes to show what kind of character guys have in this
dressing room. You know, I’d like to see it a little earlier, that desperation and the
hunger of the forecheck and things like that, but that third period, I think we do it all
right. I mean, we had enough scoring chances to tie it up. Willy (Colorado C Colin
Wilson) got a close one there at the end. That’s the way it is.”
Colorado C Nathan MacKinnon
On The First Period: “They were flying. When they get those D in the rush, it’s tough to
stop. We definitely need to have a better start Friday.”
On The Team’s Mindset Going Into Game 5: “We don’t want to end it at all. We’re still
in it, it’s not over yet. We can’t win the series if we don’t win Game 5, so we just have
to focus on that.”

Colorado RW Mikko Rantanen
On The Third Period: “It was a good period for us for sure. We were on the puck, we
were forechecking their D. They have a really good D so we have to be on them all of
the time. We were shooting pucks, going to the net and we got two goals, but just one
short. But I think we take some things from that period and try to learn from the first
two.”
On The Team’s Mindset Going Into Game 5: “Everybody in this locker room believes,
like we showed, we almost came back, just one short. Obviously, it’s disappointing,
especially at home. We wanted to tie the series and go back to Nashville, but game’s
over and it’s 3-1. Now we go to Nashville, reset tomorrow, try to learn something, go
take a win and come back home.”

Nashville D Roman Josi
On Colorado’s Performance: “They’re a good team. They are dangerous offensively
and we knew they were going to have a push. They have a lot of great players up front,
but we are happy about the win and that we found a way to get it. It’s big. It’s going to
be another battle Friday night. Like I said before they are a great team over there and
every game is tough. We have to go home, make sure we get some rest and bring our
best.”
On How Nashville Adjusted Following Game 3: “I think within the group, we are a pretty
honest group with ourselves and even if we win games there is still things we are trying
to correct. Obviously the first two [games] we won and then in third came the start,
start wasn’t good. It’s so important and you saw today it won us the game.”

Nashville G Pekka Rinne
On Colorado’s Late Push: “I think we did a really good job at the end there. At the end
of the day only a couple of pucks ended up getting all the way to me. We blocked a
few and they missed the net a couple of times, so we killed the clock pretty good at the
end. We did a pretty good job, it was a battle tonight. Obviously, first two periods we
created a lead 3-0 and it’s a good team. They came back and we battled and we
scored three and they scored two.”
On Friday’s Game: “It’s huge that we have a chance to finish the series at home.
Obviously that’s something that is in the back of your head. We want to take it so bad
and have this opportunity. But it’s a good team so we have to play again like this and I
think that will be enough.”

NOTES

Tyson Jost registered his first career postseason point.

Gabriel Landeskog tallied his third goal of the postseason, matching his career high
from the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Landeskog also extended his playoff point streak
to three games and has totaled six points (3g, 3a) in that span. His six points is a team
high through the first four games of the series, and his three goals ranks fourth among
all skaters in postseason tallies.

Landeskog also had a postseason career-high seven hits.

Tyson Barrie notched his third assist/point of the playoffs to reach a new postseason
career high. He previously had two assists in three games during the 2014 Stanley Cup
Playoffs.

Mark Barberio had a postseason career high five blocked shots, which also matches a
career high for regular and postseason performances (Apr. 5, 2018 at San Jose, April
11, 2015 vs. Boston).

Andrew Hammond made his first playoff appearance for the Avalanche, playing in his
first postseason game since April 17, 2015 at Montreal.