Avalanche vs. Predators: 3 Things to Know about First Round series

The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Monday, May 2. Next up, we preview the First Round series between the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators.

Game 1: May 3, 9:30 p.m. ET – Predators at Avalanche (ESPN, SNE, SN360 [JIP], TVA Sports)Game 2: May 5, 9:30 p.m. ET – Predators at Avalanche (TNT, SNE, SN360 [JIP], TVA Sports)Game 3: May 7, 4:30 p.m. ET – Avalanche at Predators (TNT, Sportsnet, TVA Sports)Game 4: May 9, 9:30 p.m. ET – Avalanche at Predators (ESPN, SN1, TVA Sports)*Game 5: May 11, TBD – Predators at Avalanche (TBD)*Game 6: May 13, TBD – Avalanche at Predators (TBD)*Game 7 May 15, TBD – Predators at Avalanche (TBD)

While the Blues and Wild finished their seasons red-hot, the Avalanche and especially the Predators stumbled.

The Avalanche lost six of their last seven games, with five of those losses happening during regulation. One of the Avalanche’s losses happened against the Predators in a shootout.

That said, it’s less concerning when you consider how little the Avs had to play for. Colorado clinched home-ice advantage in the West with about two weeks left in the season. It’s simply not as easy to go full-speed when the worst-case scenario is “the Panthers would play Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final series at home if the top teams in each conference actually get all the way there for once.”

Of course, finishing strong still feels more promising. Also, the Avalanche didn’t rest players as aggressively as the Panthers, which is curious since Colorado’s dealt with years of serious injury headaches.

Although the Avalanche’s struggles are notable, it’s more troubling that the Predators were hit-or-miss down the stretch. In their last 12 games, the Predators only won four times. Nashville only managed one of