5 Keys: Avalanche at Predators, Game 2

AVALANCHE at PREDATORS
3 p.m. ET; NBC, CNBC, TVAS, SNW, SNP
Nashville leads best-of-7 series 1-0
The Nashville Predators will try to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series when they play the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.
RELATED: *[Complete Predators vs. Avalanche series coverage*]

Nashville scored three goals in the third period for a 5-2 win in Game 1. Colorado will try to even the series before returning home for Game 3 at Pepsi Center on Monday.
Here are 5 keys for Game 2:

1. Forsberg's surge

Predators forward Filip Forsberg scored two goals in Game 1 and had seven shots on goal. Despite his success, it took Forsberg's line with Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson a few periods to get going up to full speed.
"I think that went for the whole team," Forsberg said. "I think we started a little slow but got moving, and the third period was good. We've got to be better to get this done."

Forsberg has five goals in his past two games, including a hat trick in the regular-season finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

2. No fear from Avalanche

The Avalanche were not intimidated by the atmosphere at Bridgestone Arena or facing the top-seeded Predators in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It showed in their play, which they thought was good enough to win for the first two periods.
"We played the first 40, I didn't see anyone scared to play or anything," Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen said. "We were hungry on the puck. We were forechecking them hard and we had a lot of good chances, but [Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne] just had a good game. We have to find the keys to get pucks by him."

3. Rinne's performance

Rinne made key saves at key times in Game 1, including a breakaway attempt by Rantanen in the second period and a 2-on-1 with Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon in the third period.
Rinne stopped 25 of 27 shots.

4. Top line breakthrough

Colorado's top line of MacKinnon, Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog combined for nine shots on goal and two assists in Game 1.

"I think last night we showed that we can play," MacKinnon said Friday. "For the first two periods, I thought we played a really strong game. We were saying after the second we would've taken 2-2 going into the third period to give ourselves a chance to win the game.
"We had some good chances. Me and [Rantanen] both had a breakaway. If we could just finish those, I mean we just didn't have the scoring touch last night but we had some good opportunities."

5. Start fast

The Avalanche got off to a good start in Game 1, scoring first and controlling play on the road.
The Predators were not happy with their first period but felt they improved as the game went on. They want to make sure their start is better in Game 2.

Avalanche projected lineup

Gabriel Landeskog -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen
Tyson Jost -- Alex Kerfoot -- Sven Andrighetto
Matt Nieto -- Carl Soderberg -- Blake Comeau
Colin Wilson -- J.T. Compher -- Gabriel Bourque
Nikita Zadorov -- Tyson Barrie
Patrik Nemeth -- Samuel Girard
Mark Barberio -- David Warsofsky
Jonathan Bernier
Andrew Hammond
Scratched:Vladislav Kamenev, Anton Lindholm, Duncan Siemens, Dominic Toninato, Mark Alt, Nail Yakupov
Injured:Erik Johnson (knee), Semyon Varlamov (knee)

Predators projected lineup

Filip Forsberg -- Ryan Johansen -- Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala -- Kyle Turris -- Craig Smith
Colton Sissons -- Nick Bonino -- Austin Watson
Miikka Salomaki -- Mike Fisher -- Ryan Hartman
Roman Josi -- Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm -- P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin -- Matt Irwin
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Scott Hartnell, Eeli Tolvanen
Injured:Calle Jarnkrok (upper body), Yannick Weber (upper body)

Status report

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar confirmed Friday they will use the same lineup as Game 1. … Jarnkrok and Weber practiced Friday.