Takeaways from Predators 6-2 Win over Avalanche

The Nashville Predators (4-3-4) have been the most unpredictable team in the league. A few days after the worst performance of the season against the Boston Bruins, they headed home to face the Colorado Avalanche (6-5-1) and dominate.

They had a 5-0 lead at the end of the second period, with Ryan O’Reilly scoring two and Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, and Jack Drury potting one each. Colorado tried to counter, with Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews scoring goals in second and third period, but Stamkos scored the dagger on the power play at 9:36 to end it.

Historic Night for the Power Play

The Predators have had one of the best power plays all season, ranking third on the man advantage. It has carried them to respectability, as they still haven’t earned a win without a power-play goal this season.

However, yesterday’s effort made history. The Predators netted four power-play goals, their most in a game since Jan. 7, 2012 vs. the Carolina Hurricanes. It’s only the sixth time in franchise history the Predators have accomplished the feat.

Despite the strength on the power play, Predators head coach Andrew Brunette still called it a full team effort. “We had 20 drivers tonight. Every time it was their turn to grab the wheel, they floored it. I think it sets up a little bit of what my expectations of this group were — kind of the standard we’re trying to set here a bit,” he said.

A Goal By Just Inches

The second goal of the night for Nashville was a very close one from Stamkos. At first, it looked like Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar saved the goal off the line in mid-air, but after video review, the shot completely crossed the line before Makar pulled it out. There was one angle that showed the definitive result: