Preds’ Subban on forearm shot to Avs’ MacKinnon: ‘I’d do it again’

Nathan MacKinnon scored twice to power the Avalanche to a 5-3 win over the Predators, cutting Nashville’s series lead to 2-1.

The intensity in the Nashville PredatorsColorado Avalanche series has ratcheted up a notch or two, thanks in part to the forearm shot P.K. Subban landed to the back of Nathan MacKinnon‘s head.

“I’d do it again next game,” Subban said Tuesday when asked about the hit following his team’s practice.

The Predators’ star blue-liner and the speedy Avalanche forward jostled in the Nashville zone late in the second period of Monday’s Game 3 in what ended up being a 5-3 Avs victory.

Subban was not penalized for the shot he gave MacKinnon but the two players were each given minor holding penalties.

“If you’re in the playoffs, there’s things that are going to happen in games,” Subban added.

“Anytime you play the same team over and over and over again you start to really dislike each other,” Predators forward Austin Watson told reporters following the game when asked about the increased physicality of the games. “It’s good battles, good intensity out there and it’s fun hockey.”

The Predators were thought to be locks to get by the Avalanche rather easily, but after an Avalanche victory in Game 3 it’s all of a sudden a compelling series — one that Nashville leads 2-1.

Game 4 takes place Wednesday and can be seen on Sportsnet and Sportsnet 360.

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