The Nashville Predators are set to take on the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night in a game where the home team is a huge favorite. The Avalanche have carved out a season that has seen them dominate at home, led by their top-tier scoring and stingy defense. Meanwhile, the Predators have fought their way into playoff contention and will try to get a memorable upset win here. Before this game starts, you can find my Predators vs Avalanche prediction right here.
Our Predators vs Avalanche Pick
| Pick: | |
| Confidence: | 3/5 |
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche
- Date & Time: Friday, January 16, 2026, 9:00 PM ET
- Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
Colorado comes into this game as one of the NHL’s most successful teams this season, with a record of 33-4-8. Their dominance has been especially pronounced at Ball Arena, where they had built an extended home winning streak before a recent overtime loss snapped that run while still remaining unbeaten in regulation at home at 19-0-3.
Nashville holds a record of 22-20-4 and has won nine of its last 13 games, climbing toward playoff positioning in the Central Division. The Predators have won their last two outings, building some momentum, but they face a significant step up in competition against the Avalanche here.
Goaltending
Colorado’s goaltending situation has seen some movement with Mackenzie Blackwood returning after an absence, making them even better behind the crease. In recent outings, backup Trent Miner earned a shutout, indicating the team’s strong support from its backup netminders. Nashville’s Juuse Saros has been a stabilizing force for his club, posting good recent numbers with a goals-against average below 2.00 and save percentage above .920 over his last few starts. Goaltending will be pivotal, particularly for Nashville as they seek to limit Colorado’s high-octane attack.
Key skaters
Colorado’s attack is led by Nathan MacKinnon, who sits among the league’s scoring leaders with over 80 points this season, including 36 goals. Martin Necas and defenseman Cale Makar also contribute at an elite rate, making Colorado’s depth a concern for opponents. For Nashville, Ryan O’Reilly anchors the offense with 39 points, supported by Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos, and Luke Evangelista. The Predators can generate offense, but slowing Colorado’s top lines will be a big challenge.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Colorado is 2-1 against the Predators in their three games so far this season.
- Colorado is 25-20 in the puckline market going into this matchup.
- The Predators are 23-23 on the puckline entering Friday night’s play.
Predators vs Avalanche Model Projection
Final Thoughts
