Predators vs Avalanche Preview: "Great Challenge for Us" According to Andrew Brunette
The Nashville Predators welcome former teammate Ryan Johansen and the Colorado Avalanche to Bridgestone Arena in a game that will likely reveal just where the Predators are in their reset.
One of Smashville's favorite players is returning to Bridgestone Arena tonight but not in home gold and blue. Center Ryan Johansen, who played for eight seasons in Nashville, will make his first return after being traded by Barry Trotz this offseason to the Avalanche. Johansen was a key piece in the Predators' 2017 Stanley Cup run and has been a fan favorite for his fun loving personality and enthusiastic community involvement during his time in Nashville.
Johansen and the 11-5 Avalanche will provide the Predators with a challenge tonight. The Avalanche sit just one point out of first place in the Central Division while the Predators are in seventh place just ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks. With stars like defenseman Cale Makar, and forwards Mikko Rantanen, Nathan MacKinnon, and Valeri Nichuchkin, the Avs being a lot of weapons to tonight's game.
Nashville will still be without defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Luke Schenn who were on the ice with the team for morning skate but are still considered "day-to-day". Spencer Stastney will get his second start of the season for the Predators on defense. Tonight forward Luke Evangelista will be out of the lineup as a healthy scratch as Andrew Brunette hopes a reset will help Evangelista get back to his style of play from the beginning of the season. Liam Foudy, who was a healthy scratch on Saturday, will return to the lineup. Juuse Saros is expected to get the start in net for Nashville.
Andrew Brunette knows this game will be a test for the resetting Predators' team to see how they measure up against one of the best teams in the league tonight.
The Predators take on the Avalanche tonight at 7:00 pm CT at Bridgestone Arena.