Colorado Focused On Must-Win Game 5

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--In order for the Colorado Avalanche to continue its Stanley Cup Playoff push, it will have to defeat the Nashville Predators this evening at Bridgestone Arena.
Nashville has a 3-1 series lead in the best-of-seven, first-round series and needs one more win to advance to the second round.
While the deficit seems like a hole, the Avs are not looking at it that way. They are focusing on the task at hand and not looking past tonight's Game 5.
"We know it's do or die from here out, but you can't look at the big picture or else it seems daunting," said defenseman Tyson Barrie. "Take it one game at a time, and we have been playing good hockey. We are right with these guys, so there is no reason we can't get a big win tonight."

"You can't try to win three games at once," said captain Gabriel Landeskog. "You got to win one and that's it. You have to recharge and refocus after that, but all focus is going to be on winning one game and make sure we have a good start as always."
Colorado scored twice in the third period of Game 4 and almost came back from a 3-0 deficit to even the series, but it ultimately fell 3-2 at Pepsi Center.
The Avs scored the first goal in each of the first three games of the series, scoring on their very first shot in both Games 1 and 2 in Nashville and their second shot in Game 3 in Denver.
"I think we got to bring the same intensity," Barrie said of the start of the contest. "Obviously, we know what's on the line tonight and it shouldn't be hard for us to get up and get motivated for another good start, but the key is to continue the good start throughout the whole game."

Although it is the first round of the playoffs, the Avalanche is no strangers to win-or-go-home contests. Game 82 of Colorado's regular season required the Avs to defeat the St. Louis Blues in regulation to advance to the playoffs, and they won by a score of 5-2.
"I think experience comes into it and that St. Louis game was important for us," said defenseman Patrik Nemeth. "The way we played, play the same way we did that game and play the same way we did in the third period last game, I think we will be tough to handle."
Against St. Louis on April 7, Colorado came out strong and outshot the Blues 12-8 in the first frame and had a 3-1 lead going into the third period.

The Avs have had nine players make their debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs during this series and the experience from that winner-take-all contest can aid the young squad tonight.
"It should help us, it's the exact same situation really at the end of the day," said head coach Jared Bednar. "If we want to keep playing, we have to win. I think Game 82, maybe a little more pressure for us because we had been working for 82 games to get to the point to try and get in the playoffs. That's a lot of work, you got a year's worth of work putting in to try and get there.
"There was a little bit of satisfaction getting in, but now we want to continue to play and play another game in front of our fans. I thought it was a real fun couple of games at home, and our guys want to experience it again. We want our fans to be able to see us play. Yeah, I think we can draw on that for sure, it's a little different here tonight on the road. It's another challenge, but I think we are up to it."

HAMMOND STARTING, GIRARD UPDATE

On Thursday, Bednar announced that goaltender Andrew Hammond will get the start in Colorado's net for the first time this series.
Hammond played the third period of Game 4 and stopped all eight shots he faced in relief for Jonathan Bernier. It was his first postseason appearance since starting Game 2 for the Ottawa Senators in the 2015 opening-round series against the Montreal Canadiens.
"He hasn't seen a lot of game action, but he has been working hard off the ice and working hard in practice and working with goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila] honing his game," Bednar said of Hammond. "He is ready, he feels prepared. He is a veteran guy he has been here before, I like his demeanor right now. Hopefully he can have a night for us."
At morning skate, rookie defenseman Samuel Girard was a full participant after missing Games 2-4 with an upper-body injury. He is a game-time decision this evening, according to Bednar.
[Here are the projected lineups for Game 5.