Game 1 Projected Lineup: Avalanche at Predators

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup Playoffs begin tonight at the Nashville Predators, and the Avs will make an adjustment in its defensive pairings for Game 1.
Blueliner David Warsofsky will replace Mark Alt, head coach Jared Bednar said following the team's morning skate at Bridgestone Arena. Warsofksy has played in 16 games with Colorado this campaign and has five assists and a plus-4 rating.
"I like the way he skates and his puck-moving ability," head coach Jared Bednar said of Warsofsky. "I think he adds an elusiveness back there that can help us get in and out of our zone."

The rest of the Avalanche's lineup will be the same as it used in Saturday's 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues at Pepsi Center.
Jonathan Bernier will be between the pipes for Colorado. He appeared in 37 games this campaign and posted a 19-13-3 record with a 2.85 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and two shutouts.
Below is the Avalanche's projected lineup. All forward combinations and defensive pairings are subject to change.

Forwards

92 Gabriel Landeskog - 29 Nathan MacKinnon - 96 Mikko Rantanen
10 Sven Andrighetto - 17 Tyson Jost - 13 Alexander Kerfoot
83 Matt Nieto - 34 Carl Soderberg - 14 Blake Comeau
57 Gabriel Bourque - 37 J.T. Compher - 22 Colin Wilson

Defensemen

16 Nikita Zadorov - 4 Tyson Barrie
12 Patrik Nemeth - 49 Samuel Girard
44 Mark Barberio - 5 David Warsofsky

Goaltenders

45 Jonathan Bernier (Starter)
35 Andrew Hammond (Backup)
Healthy Scratches: Mark Alt, Vladislav Kamenev , Anton Lindholm, Duncan Siemens, Dominic Toninato, Nail Yakupov
Injury Report: Erik Johnson (fractured patella), Semyon Varlamov (knee)
The Predators held an optional morning skate at Bridgestone following three days of full-team practices.
Nashville has not announced a starting goaltender for tonight's contest, but it is expected to be Pekka Rinne. Rinne finished the season tied for first in the NHL with eight shutouts and closed out the regular season with a 23-5-1 record in his final 29 appearances.
Below is the Predators projected lineup, according to NashvillePredators.com.

Forwards

9 Filip Forsberg - 92 Ryan Johansen - 33 Viktor Arvidsson
22 Kevin Fiala - 8 Kyle Turris - 15 Craig Smith
10 Colton Sissons - 13 Nick Bonino - 51 Austin Watson
20 Miikka Salomaki - 12 Mike Fisher - 38 Ryan Hartman

Defensemen

59 Roman Josi - 4 Ryan Ellis
14 Mattias Ekholm - 76 P.K. Subban
25 Alexei Emelin - 52 Matt Irwin

Goaltenders

35 Pekka Rinne (Starter)
74 Juuse Saros (Backup)