Juuse Saros’ 31-Save Performance Lead Predators to Win Over Avalanche – The Hockey Writers NHL News Latest News, Analysis & More

The Colorado Avalanche faced the Nashville Predators in Nashville, Tennessee, for the fourth and final time this season. Juuse Saros stood tall and made 31 saves, leading to a 2-1 victory for the Predators.

Game Recap

The first period ended 0-0; while no scoring happened, both teams aggressively opened the game, with both sides making plenty of high-danger chances. The Avalanche had 11 shots on goal, and the Predators had eight. There were no penalties, but that didn’t stop the teams from playing physically. The period ended with 16 hits, with the Avalanche leading with nine. Both teams are coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, looking to continue this second half of the season.

The scoring opened when Sam Malinski received a nifty behind-the-back pass from Jonathan Drouin and ripped a heavy slapshot past Saros for his second goal of the season. The Predators and Justin Barron answered back just 30 seconds after Malinksi’s goal, as Barron sent a slap shot past a lot of traffic in front of Scott Wedgewood and in, tying the game 1-1. It was a scary moment as Miles Wood took a deflected pass and hit his nose, sending him down bleeding, but he headed down to the locker room. Brady Skjei took the game’s first penalty as he hooked Martin Necas off the faceoff in his zone, but the Predators killed the penalty, and the period ended 1-1.

Jonathan Marchessault gives the Predators the lead when Luke Schenn’s shot from the blue line bounced off the end boards behind the net and redirected to Marchessault, who, with enough room, buried it 2-1. For the rest of the period, the Avalanche were in desperation mode, sending a flurry of chances at Saros, but he he stood tall. Wedgewood was pulled at the 2:30 mark, but shortly after, Arturri Lehkonen was called for a high stick on Barron and was assigned a double minor. The Predators looked to bury an empty net goal but were unsuccessful and the game ended 2-1.

The Avalanche will be back in action tomorrow (Feb. 23) when they fly out to face the St. Louis Blues in St. Louis. The Predators will also be back in action on Feb. 23 when the New Jersey Devils come to town.