The Avalanche are using the tough loss to the New York Rangers as a catalyst ahead of the Central Division matchup with the Nashville Predators.

The Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Predators will play what's expected to be a Central Division showdown playoff preview game with high intensity and physicality. 

"It's gonna be a good one you know, they obviously (are) chasing Winnipeg I would say, trying to get that third spot maybe, you know we're trying to catch Dallas," Mikko Rantanen said after practice on Friday. "So should be a really good one and at this time of the year it's always kind of playoff mindset and the physicality is always there, especially when we play division matchup."

Nashville is eight points behind Colorado with 90 points and are currently No. 4 in the Central Division. The Dallas Stars already clinched a berth and sit atop the division three points ahead of the Avs (98). 

Nathan MacKinnon said playing a tough Predators team is a good challenge at this point in the season ahead of the playoffs. 

"They're (Predators) one of the best teams in the league as well. Yeah they've been rolling so it's going to be a really challenging game," MacKinnon said. "A lot of games here are against really good teams — it's great, I think it's awesome that we're playing tough competition before it gets even harder."

The Avs lost 3-2 in a shootout to the New York Rangers on Thursday night but it was a hard fought game against the No. 1 team in the NHL. Even though they earned only a point, the outcome could have gone either way as the teams played an evenly tight game. The matchup between the division rivals on Saturday should look similar to that battle. 

"Obviously they (Predators) can be a handful — checking really well, not giving up a bunch of scoring chances, a high pressure team," head coach Jared Bednar said after practice on Friday. "Last night's game should be good preparation for us though, that's a really good hockey team — plays well on both sides of the puck, plays really good defensively as well, so perfect prep game for tomorrow." 

The Avalanche have had more success at home than on the road this season and lead the league with a 28-7-1 record at Ball Arena. The Predators have fared well away from Bridgestone Arena with a 22-11-3 record. 

Avalanche playoff-clinching scenarios

According to the NHL, the Avs can clinch a playoff spot if they beat the Preds in regulation or overtime. If the game goes to a shootout and they win, they'd clinch if the St. Louis Blues do not earn a regulation win. If they get one point and the Blues lose to the San Jose Sharks in any fashion, they clinch.

The Avs could even get a spot without their game being involved — if the Minnesota Wild lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion and the Blues lose to the Sharks in regulation.

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