The Colorado Avalanche punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A 7-4 victory Saturday afternoon over the Nashville Predators at Ball Arena ensured the Avs a spot in the postseason. They’re currently in second place in the Central Division with 100 points, behind the Dallas Stars (101). This marks the seventh consecutive year the Avs have reached the playoffs.
“That’s the goal, right? Get in the playoffs and give yourselves a chance,” coach Jared Bednar said. “It just shows the dedication and hard work that all the guys are putting into every season. ... It feels good.”
Yakov Trenin scored the game winner against his former team and slammed into the Ball Arena glass in celebration as part of a furious Avs rally. Colorado finished the game with five unanswered goals. The home crowd chanted — MVP! MVP! MVP! — when Nathan MacKinnon scored an empty netter to complete a four-point night (two goals).
“The game was like a playoff for me,” Trenin said. “We stayed patient and waited for our chances. You force them to make turnovers and generate them.”
The Avs overcame their initial struggles in net. Starting goaltender Alexandar Georgiev was replaced early in the second period when he allowed his fourth goal of the game. He was also penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct because of his reaction to the play. That’s when Bednar made the switch to backup Justus Annunen.
“A gut feeling," Bednar said. “I just thought (Georgiev) wasn’t sharp. So, I decided to make the change.”
Annunen shut down the Predators with no goals allowed.
“It’s never easy. I just try to be as ready as I can on the bench,” Annunen said. “The boys were helping me a lot today. They make my job easy.”
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Avalanche 7, Predators 4
What happened: Colorado rallied in beating a hot Nashville team to remain squarely in the Central Division title hunt.
What went right: Jonathan Drouin tied the game, 1-1, with a tip-in goal. Casey Mittelstadt scored a power-play goal later in the first period to cut the Avalanche deficit to 3-2. Colorado scored three unanswered goals — Artturi Lehkonen (PPG), Cale Makar (PPG) and Yakov Trenin — to lead 5-4 entering the final period. MacKinnon added two goals in the third (one empty netter) to complete a four-point night (two assists).
What went wrong: Cole Smith opened the afternoon with a goal to give the Predators a 1-0 lead. Nashville scored back-to-back times later in the first period — Mark Jankowski and Dante Fabbro — to lead 3-2. Nashville scored again (Gustav Nyquist) to start the second period. Goalie Alexandar Georgiev was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for his reaction to the play, and he was replaced in net by Justus Annunen.
Between the pipes: Georgiev made 9-of-13 saves. Annunen made 22-of-22 saves. Nashville’s Kevin Lankinen stopped 35 of Colorado’s 41 shots on goal.
Injury report: Winger Valeri Nichushkin (lower-body injury) missed the game and is still considered “day-to-day" for return. Defenseman Sean Walker took a shot to the ribs in the second period and did not return.
What’s next: The Avalanche (47-21-6) face the Blue Jackets, 5 p.m. Monday in Columbus.
