NHL: Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators Lightning odds, picks, and predictions

The Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche will face off in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round NHL Playoffs on Thursday at the Ball Arena in Nashville. The Nashville Predators need to win in order to even the series at one game apiece. The Colorado Avalanche has an opportunity to take a dominating 2-0 lead in the series with a win on Saturday. They are averaging two goals per game and scoring on 25 percent of their power play opportunities this season. Nashville is led by Matt Duchene, who has two goals and two assists, while Mikael Granlund has two assists and Roman Josi has five shots on goal. The Nashville Predators are surrendering 7 goals per game on defense and are killing 60 percent of their opponent's power-play opportunities this season. Connor Ingram has surrendered two goals on 32 shots faced, while David Rittich has surrendered five goals on thirteen shots.

They are scoring on 40 percent of their power play attempts, and they are averaging 7 goals per game. Nathan MacKinnon leads the Colorado Avalanche with two goals and three assists, while Gabriel Landeskog has five shots on goal. Mikko Rantanen also has three assists. When it comes to defense, the Colorado Avalanche are allowing just two goals a game while killing 75 percent of their opponents' power play opportunities. Darcy Kuemper has surrendered two goals on 25 shots faced this season.

The Predators have gone 1-4 in their past five road games and are 1-5 in their last six games on the road. After going 53-11 in their previous 64 home games, the Avalanche have gone 53-20 in their last 73 games overall (including playoffs). The over has gone 6-0 in the Predators' previous six games overall. In the Avalanche's last five home games, the over has gone 4-1. The Predators have won 11 of their past 15 meetings in Colorado and have gone 19-8 in their last 27 encounters overall (including playoffs). After being completely outplayed in the first game, it's possible that the Nashville Predators are showing signs that they just do not have the horses to compete with the Avalanche.

Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators predictions

My Pick: Colorado Avalanche