Nashville Predators (45-30-7, fifth in the Central Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (56-19-7, first in the Central Division)
Denver; Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Avalanche -369, Predators +285; over/under is 6.5
NHL PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND: Avalanche host series opener
BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche host the Nashville Predators to start the Western Conference first round. The teams meet Tuesday for the sixth time this season. The Predators went 3-2 against the Avalanche in the regular season. In their last regular season matchup on May 3, the Avalanche won 7-2. Nathan MacKinnon led the Avalanche with two goals.
Colorado has gone 56-19-7 overall with a 14-5-3 record against the Central Division. The Avalanche are 24-5-4 when scoring a power-play goal.
Nashville is 45-30-7 overall with a 15-7-1 record in Central Division play. The Predators have committed 392 total penalties (4.8 per game) to rank first in NHL play.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mikko Rantanen has 36 goals and 56 assists for the Avalanche. Artturi Lehkonen has six goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
Ryan Johansen has scored 26 goals with 36 assists for the Predators. Matt Duchene has seven goals and six assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 4-5-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 5.8 assists, 3.9 penalties and 10 penalty minutes while giving up 3.2 goals per game.
Predators: 3-5-2, averaging 2.9 goals, 5.2 assists, 5.3 penalties and 13.8 penalty minutes while giving up 4.9 goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: Ryan Murray: out (hand/wrist).
Predators: Juuse Saros: out (lower body), Jeremy Lauzon: out (undisclosed).
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