Game day thread and preview: Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche, Game 4

Nashville Predators @ Colorado Avalanche Western Conference Quarter Final, Game 4

Nashville leads the series 2-1

Game Time: 8:00 PM Mountain Time

Location: Pepsi Center

Broadcast / Streaming: Altitude, Sportsnet, TVA Sports, NBCSN, FS-TN

Opponent SBNation Site: On the Forecheck

If there wasn’t doubt in the minds of the Nashville Predators and their fans before Game 3, there most definitely is now. The Colorado Avalanche game out flying Monday, winning their first game against the Preds in more than two years. They didn’t just win the game, they dominated it - right up until things got sloppy when the game was out of reach.

This is the Colorado Avalanche team we are used to seeing in the Pepsi Center. They look like an elite offensive team in Denver. Maybe it’s the altitude, maybe it’s that they get the last change, maybe it’s the lack of those annoying chants (I kid, I kid...).

With these teams battling through three very tight games, we are starting to see some bad blood develop. The typical playoff extracurriculars are in full force, and a healthy hatred seems to be developing between the teams and their fans.

We should expect the Pepsi Center crowd to shower P.K. Subban with boos once again tonight. Te Nashville defender took a pretty wicket cheap shot to the head of Avs star Nathan MacKinnon in Game 3. He then doubled down by telling the media he would “do it again”. P.K. definitely isn’t making any fans in the Mile High City.

To be successful tonight, the Avalanche have to remain disciplined. They have been able to remain competitive with Nashville at 5 on 5 and have had the ability to force the Preds into bad penalties. If they can do it again tonight, there’s no reason to believe Colorado can’t tie the series up.

Avalanche Lineup

Good news: Sam Girard was back on the ice yesterday

Bad news: He was wearing a red non-contact jersey and is still listed as day-to-day.

We shouldn’t expect any lineup changes tonight, though its sounding like we might see Girard back in the lineup as early as Game 5 on Friday.

Gabriel Landeskog - Nathan MacKinnon - Mikko Rantanen

Tyson Jost - Alexander Kerfoot - Sven Andrighetto

Matt Nieto - Carl Soderberg - Blake Comeau

Colin Wilson - J.T. Compher - Gabriel Bourque

Nikita Zadorov - Tyson Barrie

Patrik Nemeth - Mark Barberio

Duncan Siemens - David Warsofsky

Jonathan Bernier

Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg - Ryan Johansen - Viktor Arvidsson

Kevin Fiala - Kyle Turris- Craig Smith

Colton Sissons - Nick Bonino - Austin Watson

Miikka Salomaki - Mike Fisher - Ryan Hartman

Roman Josi - Ryan Ellis

Mattias Ekholm - P.K. Subban

Alexei Emelin - Matt Irwin

Pekka Rinne

Juuse Saros

#GrowTheGame