Annunen Stands Tall as Predators Steal One in Denver
Nashville won 3-2 in overtime in Colorado. For most of the night, though, the puck lived around Justus Annunen.
The Avalanche fired far more often. They took 60.2% of the shot attempts, meaning they had about three of every five tries at the net. They also put 32 shots on goal to Nashville's 24. The chances were close in quality. Colorado's were worth 3.19 expected goals (how many goals those chances would usually produce) against 3.04 for Nashville. Colorado was a touch better there too.
The difference was in net. Annunen stopped 30 of 32. Mackenzie Blackwood was solid at the other end, making 22 saves on 24 shots. Annunen simply faced more pucks and turned nearly all of them aside.
The bounces also leaned Nashville's way. Devon Toews rang a post, and Colorado went 0 for 3 on the power play.
Vitali Pinchuk and Ross Colton scored for the Predators, who have now won two straight. Parker Kelly and Jaden Schwartz answered for Colorado.
