5 Keys: Avalanche at Predators, Game 5

AVALANCHE at PREDATORS
9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS, SN360, ALT, FS-TN
Predators lead best-of-7 series 3-1
NASHVILLE -- The Nashville Predators will try to close out their Western Conference First Round series against the Colorado Avalanche by winning Game 5 at Bridgestone Arena on Friday.

The Predators won Games 1 and 2 at home, then split two games in Denver, losing Game 3 but hanging on a for 3-2 win in Game 4 on Wednesday. Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier won't play because of a lower-body injury that forced him to leave Game 4. Andrew Hammond will start in his place.
Nashville forward Ryan Hartman will sit out a one-game suspension issued by the NHL for an illegal check to the head of Colorado forward Carl Soderberg in Game 4.
Here are 5 keys for Game 5:

1. Killer instinct

The Predators have an opportunity to end the series at home. They were 3-0 during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs when they had the chance to eliminate an opponent and hope to continue that trend.
"We don't want to go back to Colorado," forward Scott Hartnell said. "That's our mindset. It's going to take 60-plus minutes tonight to get the job done. We can't fool around with pucks. We can't turn pucks over. Obviously we know what their top line can do and what their power play can do, and we've just got to play a smart game."

2. Avalanche counting on Hammond

With Bernier out and Semyon Varlamov previously sidelined with a knee injury, the Avalanche are down to their third goaltender. Nashville will try to test Hammond early in the game and take advantage of his lack of NHL playing time this season. Hammond was 0-1-0 with .939 save percentage and a 2.07 goals-against average in one regular-season game for the Avalanche, then made eight saves in the third period of Game 4 after Bernier was injured. He has spent most of the past two seasons in the minor leagues.
The Predators plan to test him early.
"Our guys will be ready," coach Peter Laviolette said. "We'll do our best to take a look at him and see what we can do, but our guys will be ready for that."

3. Win or go home

It's not the first time this season the Avalanche have had to win to extend their season. They had to defeat the St. Louis Blues in their regular-season finale to make the playoffs.
One big difference is that the game against the Blues was at home. This one is at Bridgestone Arena, one of the toughest places in the NHL for visiting teams. The Avalanche have lost their past seven games in Nashville, including Games 1 and 2 of this series.

4. Stopping Forsberg

The Avalanche must contain Predators forward Filip Forsberg in Game 5. Forsberg has five points (three goals, two assists) in the series, including two highlight-reel goals, and leads the Predators with 17 shots on goal.
"Just being aware with him when he's on the rush that he can do some things not everybody can do," Avalanche forward Colin Wilson said. "He's a great 1-on-1 player. He can beat you wide and make some moves, and we've seen that in this series."

5. Nashville's third line

The trio of Nick Bonino, Colton Sissons and Austin Watson has contributed offensively in addition to their defensive responsibilities.
Sissons and Watson each has five points (three goals, two assists) in the series, including at least one in each game. They will look to continue to provide secondary scoring options for the Predators in Game 5.

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 -- Duncan Siemens
Mark Barberio -- David Warsofsky
Andrew Hammond
Spencer Martin
Scratched:Vladislav Kamenev, Anton Lindholm, Dominic Toninato, Mark Alt, Nail Yakupov
Injured:Erik Johnson (knee), Semyon Varlamov (knee), Jonathan Bernier (lower body), Samuel Girard (upper body)

Predators projected lineup

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

Status report

Girard participated in the morning skate and will be a game-time decision. If he plays, he'll likely see time on the power play, which is 2-for-18 in the series. ... Jarnkrok moved to the right wing on the fourth line, and Hartnell is expected to dress in place of Hartman.