Avalanche vs. Predators Game 3: Full highlights, final score and more

The Colorado Avalanche squashed the Nashville Predators in Game 3 to get themselves back in this series. They’ll remain at home looking to tie things up 2-2 on Wednesday night.

We’ve belabored the point that the Colorado Avalanche need a full team effort in order to take down the Nashville Predators. Stars not named Nathan MacKinnon would need to step up, the defense had to get on the same page and goaltender Jonathan Bernier was going to have to make key saves to keep his club in it.

The Avs found all three of those elements on Monday night. Surprise, it led them to a resounding victory as they come near level against the Preds in this series.

The Avalanche have had no problems starting quick. That was no exception in this one as Blake Comeau potted his second goal of the series on Colorado’s second shot of the game. The issue for them has been maintaining the momentum. Too often through the first two games, the Avalanche have started with speed and a wonderful push, only to find it jacked away by Nashville. Not so tonight. All told, Colorado kept their foot on the gas to make it 3-0 by the time the first period was over.

MacKinnon netted that third goal, but it was the tremendous effort from Gabriel Landeskog that set it up. In fact, the MacKinnon/Landeskog/Mikko Rantanen line was fabulous all night. They scored seven points among them, including two goals from MacKinnon who scored another in the second period to make it 4-0. It was their fourth goal on 15 shots. Predators netminder Pekka Rinne was pulled in favor of Juuse Saros after that.

Meanwhile, Nashville did try to make a push. It simply wasn’t enough. Center Ryan Johansen got one back on a 5 on 3 man advantage midway through the second, and the Predators did their best to match the Avalanche speed, but slow starts are a growing concern for a team that won the President’s Trophy during the regular season.

Including this one, Smashville has found themselves trailing by at least a goal going into the first intermission all three games. They got away with it twice. If not for miscues by the Avs’ defense in Game 2, this series could easily be going the other way right now.

Also, things were pretty chippy after Colorado popped four. It will be fun to watch this series continue along as the hate grows. Especially if the Avalanche can tie it up on Wednesday.

Three Stars

1: Nathan MacKinnon

While MacKinnon put up three points in the first two games, they seemed oddly quiet. That could have been due to the Predators continuously stealing momentum and thus stealing the thunder from the Colorado superstar, but that wasn’t the case tonight. He was all over the ice and seemed to be involved in every good thing the Avalanche did. In total, he finished with two goals and a plus three rating. This was by far his best effort of the series.

2: Gabriel Landeskog

Like MacKinnon, Landeskog seemed to be around everything positive in their offensive zone. He put up three points, including a goal. He offered tremendous effort, and was a huge factor in this much-needed win. When The Avalanche needed more from their top line, he came through. Props as well to Mikko Ratanen. All three of their best players were just that.

3: Jonathan Bernier

Finally, Colorado didn’t need Bernier to be a stud, they needed him to be efficient and that’s what they received. He stopped 29 of 32 to get himself as well as his team back on track at home. After giving up gaggles of goals in the first two, Bernier was solid and confident tonight when needed.

Highlights

Game 4:

Wednesday, April 18, 10 p.m. EST, @ Colorado

TV: NBCSN

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