Heading into Monday’s matinee at the Pepsi Center — and as the Avalanche aimed to put together a winning streak for the first time since Nov. 28 — the Predators seemed like as good of a matchup as any in order to inject some mojo back into Colorado’s season.
Nashville had also been sliding, dropping two straight and four of its last five. And the scoreless first period was promising, with Colorado ready for a physical affair with the team that sent them packing in the contentious first round of the playoffs last year.
But Nashville owned the second period with a trio of goals, and Colorado’s offense was largely silenced by Predators goalie Pekka Rinne as the Avalanche fell, 4-1, to their divisional rival and their funk continued.