Predators 6 - 1 Avalanche
Final
  for this game

Preds rip Avs, head to playoffs on up note

Apr 8, 2012 - 4:12 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Their playoff spot already set, the Nashville Predators still came out and took care of business.

Six different players scored Saturday in a 6-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche that will propel the Predators into their first-round meeting with the Detroit Red Wings next week fresh off a three-game winning streak.

David Legwand, Craig Smith, Patric Hornqvist, Roman Josi, Brandon Yip and Matt Halischuk had the goals and Anders Lindback made 34 saves in two-plus periods.

Nashville locked up the Western Conference's No. 4 seed earlier Saturday after Detroit lost in a shootout to Chicago. The Predators and Red Wings split the six-game regular season series.

"We've seen them quite a bit this season. We know their tendencies," said Smith, who had three points. "We certainly did a lot of good things (today). Gave up a few too many shots, but this win will certainly help us."

Matt Duchene scored for the Avs, who lost six of their last seven to miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Jean-Sebastien Giguere gave up six goals on 29 shots.

Lindback suffered an upper-body injury on a collision in net and is day-to- day. Pekka Rinne came in a stopped all 10 shots he faced in nearly 17 minutes.

Veteran Avs forward Milan Hejduk, 36, said he wasn't sure if he would retire before the start of next season.

"At this point, I just don't know," he said. "As time goes on I will have to take some time with my family and discuss some options. As far as the team performance, we are really disappointed we didn't make the playoffs."

Legwand scored on a wrister to make it 1-0 3:39 into the game and Duchene tied it less than five minutes later when he poked in a rebound. But Smith gave the Preds back the lead on a slap shot that squeaked through from the right side and Hornqvist beat the horn with a goal in the final second.

It was all Nashville needed. Josi made it 4-1 16:09 into the second period and Yip and Halischuk scored in the first 6:20 of the third for the final margin.

Game Notes

The Predators have won the last nine meetings between the teams, including four this season. They swept the season series for the second time in a row.






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