In Nashville, there was a hockey game between the Predators and Vancouver Canucks on Friday night. 
At least it seemed to be a hockey game where the intent is to shoot the puck on net and score goals.
The Canucks took a total of 12 shots on goal for the entire contest, electing to play a tight defense and smother the Predators’ second chances.
Vancouver was playing in front of Casey DeSmith, who made 29 saves in a 2-1 win for the Canucks, and a 2-1 series lead in their Stanley Cup Playoffs opening round set.
“That was a lot of fun,” DeSmith said. “Great atmosphere. The guys earned it. Every single person in this locker room buckled down in the third, played great the whole game. Power play, can’t say enough about that. That’s huge for us, two goals on the road. That’s the kind of stuff you need to win.”
DeSmith has become the de facto No. 1 for the Canucks with Thatcher Demko on the injured list, week to week.
“[DeSmith] was very important for us today,” Miller said. “These are going to be two hard road games for us. Obviously, to step in and come up with a performance like that, so timely, is really big for us. We always talk about how much confidence we have in him, and he showed us today.”
J.T. Miller hit off the power play at 13:23 of the opening stanza for a 1-0 lead to the Canucks. Quinn Hughes set it up with a for a shot from atop the left circle.
“The timing of that goal, that’s [Boeser],” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said. “… Obviously, the downhill shot by [Miller], we’ve seen that before. I think it’s huge for our team if our power play can find it.”
In the middle frame, the Canucks pushed the advantage to 2-0 with a power play strike by Brock Boeser at 4:33, deflected a pass from Miller into the cage for the goal.
Game 4 is set for Nashville on Sunday.
“They’re doing a good job of boxing out,” Nashville’s Filip Forsberg said. “I think playoff hockey is going to be more about battles and getting to the inside. I think that was kind of the message for them as well. I thought we did a great job of keeping them on the outside last game, and then tonight, obviously, we didn’t have to defend too much because we played mostly offense.”
Luke Evangelista closed the gap to 2-1 for Nashville at 16:48 of the third period. His shot from the left circle found the back of the net to ruin the shutout bid.
“That’s the most [offensive zone] possession time we’ve had, the most shots, the most Grade A’s,” Evangelista said. “It all stems from the forecheck, good puck placement. We were able to spend a lot more time down there. Obviously, we had the momentum for most of that game, especially in the third there. If we keep playing like that we’ll be in a good spot.”
Juuse Saros made 10 saves in the loss.
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