3 Takeaways From Avalanche's 3-2 Win Over Predators – Hockey Writers – Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are hitting an interesting point in the young season. Recent reports suggest that Valeri Nichushkin will return on November 15th, good news after the Avalanche were shut out by their division rival Winnipeg Jets. They rebounded with a thrilling 6-4 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, setting up a crucial matchup with the Nashville Predators.

It took a while to get going but the Avalanche were able to get the win in overtime and the extra point. Here's what we were able to take away when the Avalanche beat the Predators 3-2 in overtime.

Slow Start, Strong Finish

Things didn't get off to a good start for the Avalanche. Luke Evangelista got the Predators on the board early, picking up his second goal of the season 1:45 into the game. The Predators had a clear advantage in the first half, outshooting the Avalanche 12-6 in the process.

For the most part, the Avalanche offense has continued to slow down even without key contributors. It helps when you have three points in the top-10 producers in the league, but even those guys need help from time to time. Strengthening is on the way, so that pressure should lead to a more relaxed style of play for guys like Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

Related: Returns of Lehkonen and Nichushkin Should Spark Avalanche Offense

The Avalanche started to take it in the second, tying the game within the first five minutes. They would take the lead with Rantanen's ninth of the season seven minutes later. Despite outshooting the Predators 15-5, the visitors tied the score 0:59 into the third period, setting the stage for overtime at the end.

Defense Contributions

More often than not, we discuss what a joke MacKinnon made. Rantanen is still one of the top scorers in the league. And more often than not, the offensive contributions from the end come from Cale Makar of other countries.

In this case, Makar was not heard, but the defense contributions did not end. Devon Toews started the scoring for the team, getting his first of the season in the process. Rantanen and MacKinnon got on the board, but it would be Samuel Girard's first of the season that sent everyone home happy.

The Avalanche have four guys playing at the clip per game right now, but they need more in the secondary scoring. Only Ross Colton (delisted) and Girard are close to double figures in points, with the others trailing by a few points through 16 games. Getting secondary points anywhere will be useful in the long run.

Georgiev Another Strong Start

Don't look now, but the paradise itself has started to come. After a brutal first six games, Alex Georgiev is starting to look like the solid starter we knew him to be two seasons ago. It's good to see his confidence grow and it's good to know the Avalanche may have a reliable duo instead of a solid but unproven starter and a bunch of questions.

For the second time in a start, Georgiev allowed two goals or less. He gave up four against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday (Nov. 9) but played a better game than the numbers indicated. Still, it's these types of performances that will bring him back to the fans' good shows.

The goaltending situation is far from resolved but at least it's trending in the right direction. The team, as a whole, is starting to come together. They are suddenly in the wild card spot, just two points behind the Dallas Stars in third place in the division.

Avalanche Gains Momentum

It took some time, but the Avalanche are moving in the right direction. They are 6-4-0 in their last ten games but are starting to show that they are better than most other teams in the Central Division. Games against Dallas, Winnipeg, and the Minnesota Wild will be crucial from here on out.

Given how the season started and how flawed the roster was, it should improve in more ways than one when Nichushkin returns. Being healthy is the goal right now for the Avalanche. Doing so will make them a formidable opponent any night of the week.