In Vancouver, the Nashville Predators regained their late season form on Tuesday night, taking a 4-1 win over the Canucks, and evening their opening round Stanley Cup Playoff series at 1-1. 
The Predators jumped out to a 3-0 lead into the middle frame frame, four different strikers had goals for Nashville.
Nashville jumped on the Canucks early with a goal at 1:14 of the opening stanza. Anthony Beauvillier collected a pass from Filip Forsberg and deflecting it home.
“I didn’t see the guy’s stick in the lane and I was just kind of moving over to the backdoor guy expecting him to tip it,” Vancouver goalie Casey DeSmith said. “It got tipped up a little higher and [my] blade slipped out. That was a tough way to start.”
The first period was an exercise in futility for the Canucks. The the Predators were whistled for three minor penalties, and the ensuing power plays for the Canucks yielded zero shots on goal.
“We had some chances, some looks on the [power play], some empty nets we didn’t capitalize on,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “Maybe we got a little frustrated but we threw a lot of rubber around that area. We’ve got to keep doing that. I think the game plan is there, we’ve just got to start executing.”
In the middle frame, the Predators scored a pair of markers to take a 3-0 lead.
“I think it was won in the second period, and I thought in the third period we were committed to the pain,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said of his team, which blocked 30 shots. “Something that maybe Game 1 (a 4-2 loss) we learned from. Maybe weren’t quite as committed to the pain, and tonight, with the blocked shots and the things that we did sacrificing our body, we learned and we’re still growing. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re getting better and today was a good step.”
Forsberg hit for the first of the period at 6:29, he scored relatively untested in the Vacouver zone for a close shot.
“That was a huge goal,” Brunette said. “Big time, pretty sick hands in tight and doing what he does, he’s done all year.”
Colton Sissons then scored at 8:04 for the three-goal advantage.
“It’s always nice to score a big goal for your team in the playoffs no matter where you’re at, but extra special here for me,” Sissons said. “Made a good play off the entry and just drove hard to the net and found a rebound, which is as simple as it gets but sometimes what you got to do.”
Game 3 is set for Friday in Nashville.
Juuse Saros made 17 saves in the win.
Nikita Zadorov was the lone striker for the Canucks. His goal at 15:33 of the second period ended the run for Nashville, and closed the gap to 3-1. He scored off a shot from atop of the left circle.
“I thought we created a lot today (84 shot attempts), just didn’t capitalize on our chances. That was the difference in the game,” Zadorov said. “They’re super desperate. They’re laying for every puck, they’re trying to block with their faces. So, that’s what maybe we can learn from them in that particular thing. It’s hard to win. I mean, it’s playoff hockey. It’s a long series. There’s no panic in the room.”
The Predators lucked out in the game, they did not have a shot on goal in the third period until an empty net goal with less than two minutes left in the frame.
Kiefer Sherwood iced the win with the goal at 18:05.
“We defended well, but the third period is definitely not a recipe that we necessarily want to repeat for the whole series,” Forsberg said. “But at the same time, they’re doing a lot of good things. You’ve got to give them credit. They’re a great team, and at the end of the day, I think the sacrifice and the shot blocking was the reason, and phenomenal goaltending as well.”
Casey DeSmith made 12 saves in the loss.
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