NASHVILLE —The Nashville Predators return to Bridgestone Arena tonight for a 7 p.m. CT game against the Colorado Avalanche, but the timing is not ideal. The Predators are trying to stop a slide against one of the league’s most dangerous offenses, and they have little room to get this one wrong.

Nashville enters at 3-3-4, having lost five of its last six (1-2-3). That stretch includes a 6-0 shutout at Boston on Thursday and a 3-2 overtime loss at Pittsburgh.

Saturday’s loss in Pittsburgh offered at least a few encouraging signs. Steven Stamkos put Nashville ahead in the first period, and Jayden Struble scored his first goal since coming over from Montreal in an Oct. 9 trade. Juuse Saros made 34 saves. Even so, the Penguins tied it late in the third and won in overtime, so Nashville left with one point after leading in the second period.

Colorado arrives in better shape. The Avalanche are 6-4-1 after a 6-3 win over Tampa Bay on Friday, snapping a two-game skid.…