Postseason Game Day: Avalanche vs. Preds - Round 1, Game 4

After the first three games went in favor of the Avalanche, the Nashville Predators are still looking to build upon the positives and extend their series tonight in Game 4 at Bridgestone Arena at 8:30 p.m. CT.
The Preds had their best outing of the series on Saturday afternoon in Nashville, but they fell by a 7-3 final as the Avalanche took a 3-0 series lead. Goaltender Connor Ingram got the start once again and made 35 saves in the effort. The Preds held off-ice workouts and team meetings on Sunday and prepared for this evening's matchup in a chance to extend the series.

"We just need a complete game from everyone top to bottom," Preds forward Ryan Johansen said Sunday afternoon. "Penalty kill, power play, 5-on-5; we just need to be ultra-focused on every little detail on every little play on the ice… It's about all the things we've done so far all year long and just going out there trying to execute your game as best as possible as individuals, and then as a team."
"It's important for us to be able to get back to more of the identity we played with [during the regular season]," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said. "One of the strengths of our team is the ability to be able to try to win territory, control territory, the way that we can forecheck and the way that we crash on the offensive zone. [The Avalanche] are a very good offensive team. If you can't sustain that pressure, then they're able to get out of their zone easier and then there's a lot of rush opportunities there."
Prior to Game 3 on Saturday afternoon, the Preds recalled forward Cody Glass from Milwaukee. Glass centered a line with Philip Tomasino and Eeli Tolvanen on Saturday, while forwards Nick Cousins, Michael McCarron and Matt Luff were scratched. Defensemen Ben Harpur and Philippe Myers were also scratched, and blueliner Mark Borowiecki missed Game 3 and is day-to-day due to injury. Goaltender Juuse Saros also remained out with his lower-body injury.
Hynes said Sunday afternoon Saros is "not available" for Game 4.

The Good Guys:

Three separate Preds skaters - Matt Duchene, Eeli Tolvanen and Preds Captain Roman Josi - all found the back of the net in Game 3. Ingram got his second career playoff start Saturday afternoon; he's appeared in all three games of the series thus far. Josi's power-play goal on Saturday was his 11th career playoff goal to move him past Austin Watson and Mike Fisher (both w/ 10) for sole possession of eighth on the Predators' all-time list.
Duchene leads the Preds with three goals in the postseason; Mikael Granlund and Alexandre Carrier both have a trio of assists in the series.

The Opposition:

Six separate Avalanche skaters tallied in Game 3 including Gabriel Landeskog with two goals. Artturi Lehkonen, Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri, Devon Toews and Valeri Nichushkin also scored Saturday afternoon. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper got the start and made nine saves before he was replaced late in the first period due to injury. Netminder Pavel Francouz replaced Kuemper and made 18 saves in his effort to lead Colorado to a 3-0 series lead.
The Avalanche said Sunday Kuemper could be available to play in Game 4.

Game 3 Notables:

Nashville moved to 13-9 all-time in Game 3 (11-3 at home). The Predators now trail a Stanley Cup Playoff series 0-3 for the first time in franchise history.
Nashville and Colorado combined for six power-play goals, the most in a postseason contest since Game 4 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between Pittsburgh (4) and Philadelphia (3). The Predators scored multiple power-play goals in a playoff game for the 11th time in team history and first since Game 1 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers vs. Arizona (2).
Alexandre Carrier had two assists for his first career multi-point playoff game. Eeli Tolvanen scored his first career playoff goal.

Watch & Listen:

Coverage for Game 4 from Bridgestone Arena begins at 8 p.m. CT with the Predators Live! pregame show on Bally Sports South. Willy Daunic, Chris Mason, Lyndsay Rowley, Terry Crisp and Kara Hammer have the call on the television side, while Pete Weber and Hal Gill will broadcast on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network. Pregame coverage on the radio begins at 7:30 p.m. Today's game may also be seen nationally on ESPN and on Sportsnet in Canada.