Avalanche Game 16 vs Nashville Predators, lines, notes and how to watch

The Colorado Avalanche (7-8-0) continue their homestand against the surprising last place in the Western Conference, the Nashville Predators (5-9-1). Puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm MT.

The Avs have started to string together a handful of solid games in a row and look to get back to .500 with a win on Monday. Since Artturi Lehkonen returned to the lineup, Colorado has scored 12 goals in three games despite being shut out in one of them. It started with a 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken before falling 1-0 to the NHL’s top Winnipeg Jets. In that game, the Avalanche were far and away the better team, but couldn’t beat goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. They followed that performance with a come-from-behind 6-4 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes, ending their eight-game winning streak.

Alexandar Georgiev gets the nod in goal for the third game in a row. He was exceptional against Winnipeg and was big in the first period against Carolina, where Colorado was outplayed. Georgiev is looking for his first winning streak of the season.

Nashville has been a surprisingly slow team to start the season. After winning the offseason with the additions of Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, and signing Brady Skjei to replace the departed Ryan McDonagh, the Predators should be one of the NHL’s must-watch teams. Instead, they’re dealing with chemistry issues, which is understandable, but they may have overplayed their winger additions without focusing enough on getting another top-six center to help Ryan O’Reilly.

Colton Sissons, currently their No. 2 center, has one goal and zero assists in 14 games. Tommy Novak was slotted into that spot to start the year, but had just four points in 12 games before suffering an upper-body injury. He is listed as day-to-day.

One of Nashville’s five wins came against the Avs – a 5-2 win at Bridgestone Arena. It was the final game before Colorado welcomed back Lehkonen, who has helped the top line elevate their play at five-on-five and push other depth forwards further down the lineup.

READ MORE: Notebook: Does the avalanche finally have exciting prospects again?

Season series

• Nov. 2 at Nashville Predators (L 5-2)
• Nov. 11 vs. Nashville Predators
• Dec. 14 vs. Nashville Predators
• Feb. 22 at Nashville Predators

Avalanche damage

• Miles Wood (upper body, IR)
• Ross Colton (foot, 6-8 weeks)
• Jonathan Drouin (upper body, day-to-day)
• Gabriel Landeskog (knee, no schedule)
• Valeri Nichushkin (suspended, returns November 15)

Projected avalanche lines (subject to change)

Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Mikko Rantanen
Joel Kiviranta — Casey Mittelstadt — Logan O’Connor
Ivan Ivan – Parker Kelly – Nikolai Kovalenko
Nikita Prishchepov – TJ Tynan – Chris Wagner

Devon Toews – Cale Makar
Samuel Girard – Josh Manson
Calvin de Haan – Sam Malinski

Alexander Georgiev
Justus Annunen

READ MORE: What Will Change With Valeri Nichushkin In Avs Lineup (+)

Projected starters (subject to change)

• Confirmed: Alexander Georgiev (COL)
• Unconfirmed: Juuse Saros (CAR)

Upcoming milestones

• Mikko Rantanen – needs 3 power-play goals for 100
• Nathan MacKinnon – Needs 5 power-play goals for 100
• Devon Toews – needs 5 assists for 200
• Josh Manson – needs 8 games for 600
• Cale Makar – needs 8 goals for 100

That’s how you see