Round 1 Game of the Year
Game 2 was nothing like Game 1 as it took everything Colorado had to keep it a 1-1 game and get it into overtime after Darcy Kuemper stopped 25 shots and Connor Ingram had a remarkable 48 saves in only his fourth NHL game for Nashville. The Predators though got little production offensively and it will be pushing their luck to expect another outstanding performance from the rookie, who gave up a goal by Cale Makar 8:31 into overtime after the Predators had blocked 34 shots. There is a chance Juuse Saros will be ready to start after missing the first two games with an ankle injury and he owns a 2.64 GAA. The Avalanche are 10-1 their last 11 conference quarterfinal games and 43-9 overall versus a team that scored fewer than two goals its previous game. The UNDER is 8-3 in Colorado's last 11 games versus a team that allowed two or fewer goals its previous game and the Avs are 22-10-1 UNDER their past 33 games against the Western Conference. Nashville is 7-3 UNDER playing with one day of rest and the Predators have stayed UNDER five of six at home after being away for at least seven days. Kuemper has a 2.50 goals-against average with five shutouts and Colorado is 11-5 UNDER its past 16 playing with one day of rest. The Avs have stayed UNDER four of five as playoff game favorites dating to last season. Take the Avalanche and the UNDER as my Round 1 Game of the Year Max Play.
