Wide World of Women

When a team comes within a hair of a championship, that team makes plans and moves to go that extra step. Usually in the NHL, defending champions ended up missing the playoffs at times, but the Nashville Predators returned with a vengeance, winning their first division title and Presidents' Trophy in their 20th season of existence. They were the very first team to clinch a playoff spot this season, and their opponents are the very last team to nab a spot in the playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche had a huge turnaround to say the least. Our point total nearly doubled from 48 last year to 95 this year, and it was after trading Matt Duchene that the Avs went on a tear! The Avalanche are in the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and we clinched that spot with a victory in a do-or-die meeting with the Blues on Saturday. The Avs have some good omens on our side. The last time we clinched a playoff spot during a season that ended on April 8? 2001. Plus, we're the last team in this year. Nashville was the last team in last year, and we all remember how that turned out. The Avalanche are on a roll, and it will continue in this series.

Prediction: Avalanche in 6

#1

Predators 5, Avalanche 2

Preds take Game One behind a three-goal third period.

GO PREDS

Predators 5, Avalanche 4

Rinne cracks, but Preds capitalize on Colorado's mental mistakes to take Game Two.

Avalanche 5, Predators 3

Avalanche explode and knock out Rinne in a dominant Game 3 victory!

Predators 3, Avalanche 2

Predators hang on and hold off our comeback to take a 3-1 series lead.

Avalanche 2, Predators 1

Late third period goals by Gabriel Landeskog and Sven Andrighetto, coupled with Andrew Hammond's 44 saves, keep the Avalanche alive!

Predators 5, Avalanche 0

Pekka Rinne shuts the door on the Avs and our season; Preds advance.