I Watched This Game: Matinee Idol Edition

The Nashville Predators were looking to complete a perfect four-game road trip, and in the process, extend their winning streak to eight games. The Colorado Avalanche were looking to build upon a 7-1 drubbing of Minnesota Friday while bolstering their playoff hopes. These two teams were facing off against each other yesterday afternoon, and yes, I Watched This Game.

• Before I get to the game itself, there was also a Philadelphia-Florida match going on, and good seats are still available in Florida.
• That out of the way, it didn't take Nashville long to make their mark, as Austin Watson fires a puck from the blue line. It banks off an Avs player and past Semyon Varlamov to give Nashville the lead.
• Nikita Zadorov high-sticks Kevin Fiala, which forces him to sit for two minutes and feel shame.
• Zadorov gets free and redeems himself immediately after, as he takes a puck moments after leaving the box and beats Pekka Rinne one-on-one. You already know by this point that this is going to be playoff-like hockey.
• Mattias Ekholm is guilty of a cross check, and Colorado goes on the power play to end the period. Nothing happens, and the game is tied at one heading into intermission.
• Tyson Jost creates a penalty, as Ryan Hartman is forced to trip him as he is charging to the net. Once again, Colorado fails to convert, and I hope this isn't going to be a trend.
• A Gabriel Landeskog knockdown of Ryan Johansen in front of the net puts Nashville on the power play. The Preds make good on this, as Kyle Turris is able to slip one past Varlamov despite hitting Varlamov's glove.
• Viktor Arvidsson trips Mikko Rantanen, and he too, goes for two minutes. Yep, Colorado still can't convert.
• We get four-on-four hockey, as Landeskog gets a penalty for cross checking. Arvidsson gets an embellishment penalty, as well.
• Nashville goes on the power play that will carry into the third period, as Zadorov took exception to a Hartman hit on Matt Nieto and decides to WWE-style headlock him as he's coming onto the ice during a line change.
• After the game goes back to full strength, Nieto takes a shot that takes a funny bounce off Rinne. Fiala can't control the rebound, and accidentally puts the puck into the net for an Avalanche goal.
• Watson trips up Soderberg, and after a long delayed penalty, the Avs go on the power play. On the ensuing power play, Rantanen is left alone in the left faceoff circle, and he fires a wrister past Rinne to give the Avs their first lead.
• The Preds pull the goalie, and with a minute left, Ryan Ellis fires a howitzer past Varlamov to tie things up again, and we get some free hockey.
• Filip Forsberg found a perfect time to break out of his slump, as he nets one past Varlamov from a near-impossible angle. Predators take the win, and the extra point.

You couldn't have asked for a better hockey game on a Sunday afternoon. Both teams played incredibly well, and this was a back and forth affair. The Predators head home after a perfect road trip while Colorado was able to gain a little ground in the playoff hunt, though the OT loss does hurt their chances a little.