Among the 17 goaltenders who have played in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs entering Tuesday’s games, Nashville’s Pekka Rinne ranks near the bottom. He is 12th in goals-against average (4.15) and 14th in save percentage (.861).
Suffice to say the Avalanche has been awesome against the 35-year-old Rinne, who is a Vezina Trophy finalist as the NHL’s top goalie in the regular season.
Colorado has scored four goals on Rinne in each of the past two games, and he was pulled after the Avs went ahead 4-0 just 4:25 into the second period in the Avs’ 5-3 Game 3 victory. Nashville leads the seven-game series 2-1 heading into Wednesday’s Game 4 at the Pepsi Center.
“We’ve discussed going into this series that we want to have high shot volume and get guys around the net for those tips and deflections and rebounds, and so far we’ve done a good job of that,” Avs forward Blake Comeau said Tuesday during an optional practice at the Pepsi Center. “For the most part, our defensemen have done a good job getting shots through from the point, for us forwards who are getting to the net. Rinne’s one of the best goalies in the league — especially playing the puck. One thing we talked about is keep the puck away from him so we can have a good forecheck.”
Avs captain Gabe Landeskog expects to see Rinne at his best Wednesday. “There’s a reason why he’s always up for the Vezina or at least in the conversation,” Landeskog said. “Real good goaltender and he’s made it tough on us all series long, really. We got rewarded for a lot of hard work last night.”
Possible return. Rookie defenseman Sam Girard, who missed Games 2 and 3 with an undisclosed injury, practiced Tuesday in a red non-contact jersey. The 19-year-old didn’t appear limited in skating or shooting.
“Positive sign,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Girard, who was acquired from Nashville on Nov. 5 and has become a top-four defenseman for Colorado. “He’s still day-to-day. We’ll know more again (Wednesday) and make some decisions from there.”
Big Nemo. Avs defenseman Patrik “Nemo” Nemeth logged a team-high 25:20 in Game 3 and delivered four hits and blocked six shots. “Nemo” is being asked to do more because of the injuries to Girard and Erik Johnson.
“I thought he was good,” Bednar said. “I know it’s not the minutes he has played all year long but it’s a necessity right now with some of the guys we have out of the lineup. He’s elevated his game.”
Footnote. The NHL announced Game 5 in Nashville on Friday will begin at 7:30 p.m. MT. … None of Colorado’s top players participated in Tuesday’s optional practice.
Three things to watch when the Avalanche and Predators face off for Game 4
Rattle Rinne. Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne was pulled early in the second period of Game 3 on Monday after allowing four goals on 15 shots. He has allowed 10 goals in the series, including four each in the last two games. At the other end, the Avs’ Jonathan Bernier has been better — but not by much. Both goalies are due for an excellent low-scoring outing.
Power up. The Avalanche’s power play went 0-of-5 Monday and is just 1-of-13 in the series. The second unit has missed point-man Sam Girard in the last two games, and his possible return to the lineup will help. But the No. 1 unit led by point-man Tyson Barrie needs to capitalize — a big key for a team that can’t compare with Nashville’s scoring depth.
Landeskog. Game 3 was chippy, and the Avs’ top line is bound to continue to get face-washed and cross-checked between whistles. Left wing and team captain Gabe Landeskog has been in the middle of every scrum — because it’s his nature and he wants to divert the attention away from linemates Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.