Yakov Trenin performed exceptionally well against his former team, while Nathan MacKinnon consistently delivers outstanding performances against all opponents.
With an outstanding performance from backup goalie Justus Annunen, the Colorado Avalanche achieved another remarkable comeback win on Saturday afternoon. The 7-4 victory against the Nashville Predators also confirmed the Avalanche's place in the playoffs. This marks the Avs' seventh consecutive postseason appearance.
Avs coach Jared Bednar expressed their goal of making it to the playoffs and giving themselves a chance. He also acknowledged the dedication and hard work demonstrated by the team, highlighting their continuous improvement from the previous seasons.
MacKinnon scored two goals and provided two assists, initiating a new home point scoring streak. He also temporarily reclaimed the NHL scoring lead from Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid. Trenin, following his trade from Nashville before the deadline, delivered his best performance so far, including the game-winning goal against his former team.
The Predators managed to score four times on 13 shots against Avs starter Alexandar Georgiev. Nashville's fourth goal, which gave them a 4-2 lead, came 57 seconds into the second period.
Georgiev received an unsportsmanlike penalty and was substituted after the goal. Annunen effectively guarded the net, stopping all 13 shots he faced in the second period as the Avalanche launched their comeback. He then made nine more saves in the final 20 minutes to secure the victory.
Cale Makar suggested that there were opportunities to improve in front of Georgiev, but praised Annunen's stellar performance, referring to him as a critical asset for the team.
The comeback began after Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh was given a major penalty and game misconduct due to an altercation with his former Tampa Bay teammate, Ross Colton. Artturi Lehkonen scored on a one-timer during the subsequent five-minute power play, bringing the score to 4-3.
Makar scored the Avs' third power-play goal to level the score with 1:35 remaining in the second period. Trenin and Brandon Duhaime outmuscled Filip Forsberg to win a loose puck battle, and Trenin successfully scored against Kevin Lankinen, his former teammate, giving Colorado the lead with 29 seconds left in the period.
Yakov Trenin regarded today's game as a playoff-like experience.
MacKinnon increased the Avs' lead to 6-4 with his 46th goal of the year early in the third period. The crowd at the Ball Arena applauded with the loudest “M-V-P” chant of the season.
The physicality of the game was evident from the first minutes of the first period. Both teams have been performing exceptionally well in the past month and are competing for a playoff position. Nashville aims to surpass Winnipeg for third place in the Central Division, while Colorado is pursuing the division title and potentially the top seed in the Western Conference.
There is a possibility that these teams may face each other again in three weeks to start the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it seemed like there were some messages being sent during the game.
Nashville won the first two games at Bridgestone Arena. In the first game, they scored two goals in the final minute to tie and win the game. The second game was a 5-1 blowout on March 2, which was the last poor game for the Avalanche.
MacKinnon helped in both of Colorado’s first-period goals. He set up Jonathan Drouin at the far post early in the period.
Casey Mittelstadt, playing on the top power play due to Valeri Nichushkin's lower-body injury, scored late in the period. MacKinnon also scored an empty-net goal with 3:50 left, bringing his total to 47 goals and 127 points with eight games remaining.
MacKinnon already holds the Denver-based record for points in a season. The overall franchise record is 139 points, set by Peter Stastny in 1981-82.
