![]() Dante Fabbro complements Josi’s galavanting with his keen defensive awareness, and Mattias Ekholm is still a solid stalwart even as he departs his prime. Even so, he will look to build off of his strong record of production in the playoffs (31 points in 35 games) and push the Avalanche towards their ultimate goal of winning their third Stanley Cup in franchise history.Ĭale Makar, Colorado Avalanche ( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)Īpart from Josi, the Predators’ can roll out a dependable, but unspectacular defence core. If not for his Swiss counterpart’s extraordinary campaign, the young defender would be a lock for the Norris. Trailing only Josi on the defensive scoring leaderboard, the third-year talent was two goals away from becoming the first blueliner since Mike Green in 2008-09 to score 30 goals in a season. On the Avalanche side is Makar, the 23-year-old defenseman looking to win his first Norris of what is quickly turning into a decorated career. His 96 points represent the highest total for a defenseman in the salary cap era, and neutralizing his forward dashes should be the Avalanche’s top priority. Josi is the X-factor in this series – as he goes, so do the Predators. ![]() The pair should put on a display reminiscent of two jousters going head to head in a duel, taking turns slicing up the other’s defensive structure. The two defensemen sit first (Josi) and second (Makar) in blueline scoring and carry the brunt of their respective teams’ workload in transitioning play up the ice. In the Avalanche’s Cale Makar and the Predators’ Roman Josi, this series is set to showcase the frontrunners for the Norris Trophy. Defensive Duel Highlighted by Norris Trophy Contenders ![]() The Avalanche also scored the third-most goals per game in the NHL this season, and that trend shouldn’t stop in the playoffs. Throw in the sharpshooting Andre Burakovsky and an assortment of pesky bottom-six forwards, and the Avalanche have a diverse stable of attackers at their disposal. Related: 4 Reasons the Avalanche Will Win the 2022 Stanley CupĮlsewhere, rookie forward Alex Newhook (33 points) could be a potential breakout star, and Valeri Nichushkin and deadline acquisition Artturi Lehkonen are among the NHL’s best two-way forwards. If he can keep his notorious temper in check, his presence gives the Avalanche a formidable one-two punch down the middle along with MacKinnon. The much-maligned pest stepped up early in the season when his team was hamstrung by injuries and finished 18th in league scoring with 87 points in 71 games. Nathan MacKinnon (88 points in 65 games), Mikko Rantanen (92 in 75), and Gabriel Landeskog (59 in 51) are three of the usual suspects, but it’s Nazem Kadri’s unexpected outburst that takes this array of talent to the next level. When it comes to points per game (P/G), they account for four of the top 22 forwards in production, more than any other team. On the other hand, the Avalanche can trot out both offensive superstars, and unheralded depth capable of making a difference by feasting on weaker competition. ![]() Matt Duchene, Nashville Predators (John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) Their overall group is not as deep as Colorado’s, but their blend of toughness and skill could prove to be a nuisance for an Avalanche team expecting a quick out in the first round. Time and space come at a premium in the playoffs, and enacting a physical toll in exchange for those resources could be the key to Nashville’s success. Tanner Jeannot (second in hits) and Yakov Trenin (31st) add a different dimension to the Predators’ lineup, representing physical presences who could potentially unnerve the Avalanche’s collection of skilled forwards. Both Mikael Granlund (64) and Ryan Johansen (63) eclipsed 60 points, and sniper Filip Forsberg scored at a 50-goal pace through 69 games. After tallying only 65 points in 100 games over the previous seasons, Matt Duchene registered career-highs in goals (43) and points (86), more often resembling the player being paid $8 million a year. Avalanche Forward Group Arguably NHL’s Bestīefore we delve into the Avalanche’s vaunted forward group, let’s heap some praise on several Predators who enjoyed a scoring renaissance this season. Now, let’s dig into how each team can emerge victorious in this opening-round matchup. The Predators boast one of the NHL’s most dynamic blueliners and watched several forwards achieve career-highs in a number of statistical categories. Nashville Predators (The Hockey Writers)ĭespite the 22-point discrepancy between the two clubs in the standings, all hope is not lost for John Hynes’ group.
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