Avalanche falls 4-1 at Minnesota in regular-season finale; Nashville the opponent in first round of postseason

Almost two weeks after clinching the Western Convention’s No. 1 seed, the Avalanche concluded their common season on Friday evening and might now solely give attention to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Avs rested six regulars in opposition to the Minnesota Wild and misplaced 4-1 at Xcel Vitality Middle in St. Paul, Minn. The Wild jumped to a 3-0 lead and went on to clinch home-ice benefit in opposition to the St. Louis Blues in a first-round collection.

Colorado’s first-round opponent, the West’s No. 8 seed, is the Nashville Predators, who blew a 4-0 lead on the Arizona Coyotes and misplaced 5-4 at Gila River Area.

Recreation 1 of the Avs’ first-round collection is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ball Area.

Colorado (56-19-7) climbed to a club-record 119 factors with Thursday’s 5-4 shootout loss to the visiting Predators. The earlier file was 118 factors by the 2000-01 Avs who went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Avs on Friday performed with out top-line forwards Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin and top-pair defensemen Cale Makar and Devon Toews. In addition they rested defenseman Bo Byram and goalie Darcy Kuemper. Ahead Gabe Landeskog (knee) and defenseman Ryan Murray (arm) proceed to get better from accidents.

“It was a no brainer for me,” Avs coach Jared Bednar stated of resting a few of his prime gamers. “Again-to-back, late-night arrival getting in right here (early Friday morning) after which we’ll have one other late evening coming residence tonight. Within the standings, it didn’t imply something for us, so it was good to get a bunch of our guys in who’ve been sitting out recently and provides them some alternative in opposition to a tricky opponent.”

Colorado’s roster grew to twenty-eight gamers when defenseman Jacob MacDonald and goalie Justus Annunen have been recalled for the AHL’s Eagles late Thursday evening. Each have been within the lineup in opposition to the Wild, who performed practically all of their regulars. Annunen backed up starter Pavel Francouz.

“It was an extended season, a number of video games. We collected a number of wins on the way in which and that’s actually constructive,” Francouz stated. “We’re solely wanting ahead to essentially the most enjoyable a part of the 12 months. So we’re actually completely happy that it’s going to begin quickly and we’re actually wanting ahead to that.”

Minnesota led 2-0 after the primary interval and took a 3-0 lead early within the second. Forwards Jordan Greenway scored 58 seconds into the sport and former Avs ahead Tyson Jost doubled the lead at 4:12. Lower than two minutes after Wild ahead Kirill Kaprizov prolonged his group lead in targets to 47, Avs middle Nazem Kadri took a circle-to-circle go from Mikko Rantanen and beat goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for his twenty eighth tally.

Greenway added an empty-net purpose with 32 seconds remaining within the recreation.

Footnotes. The Avalanche could have Saturday off. … Kadri and defenseman Erik Johnson donned an A on their chest to interchange MacKinnon and Makar as assistant captains.

Avalanche first-round schedule vs. Nashville (MT):

Recreation 1 Tuesday, Might 3 at Ball Area, 7:30 p.m

Recreation 2 Thursday, Might 5 at Ball Area, 7:30 p.m

Recreation 3 Saturday, Might 7 at Nashville, 2:30 p.m.

Recreation 4 Monday, Might 9 at Nashville, 7:30 p.m

*Recreation 5 Wednesday, Might 11 at Ball Area, TBD

*Recreation 6 Friday, Might 13 at Nashville, TBD

*Recreation 7 Sunday, Might 15 at Ball Area, TBD

*If mandatory