In Nashville, the Predators are battling the Vancouver Canucks at Bridgestone Arena. A victory for Nashville means a Game 7, but a loss ends their season.
Earlier this week, the Predators avoided elimination by defeating the Canucks 2-1 in Vancouver, with a comeback victory. Andrew Brunette, a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the league’s most impactful coach, aims to guide his team to their first playoff win at home since 2021. Nashville has lost their last five home playoff games.
Nashville narrowly escapes danger six minutes into the game when Vancouver almost scores, but the puck slides along the goal line and is cleared away.
Hockey gods appreciation post @PredsNHL l #Preds pic.twitter.com/aFaWnE9bgo
— Bally Sports: Preds (@PredsOnBally) May 3, 2024
A minute later, the Predators counterattack. Gustav Nyquist gets a breakaway opportunity, but Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs deflects his chance. However, Silovs then saves a slapshot attempt that comes his way just seconds later.
Despite controlling the middle minutes of the first period, the Predators haven’t capitalized on their scoring chances. Inside Bridgestone Arena, their scoring opportunities have ignited anticipation among the crowd. They’re simply waiting for the goal that will set the arena alight.
The @PredsNHL have been dominating the middle portion of this period. The crowd is ready to burst pic.twitter.com/sAyvME92Sm
— Garrett Short (@GarrettShortTV) May 3, 2024
At the end of the first period, Nashville and Vancouver are tied 0-0. The Predators have six shots on goal compared to five for the Canucks. Nashville’s commitment to blocking shots has resulted in 11 blocked shots in the first 20 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that it was a clean first period. Despite the series being described as “chippy” by players, not a single penalty was given.
The Predators start the second period with a scoring chance about three minutes in when they catch Vancouver in the middle of a line change, but they fail to capitalize.
While the Predators’ offense continues to fall short of scoring, Saros demonstrates his agility in the goal. He makes a pair of massive saves early in the period, eliciting gasps from the crowd as the 29-year-old goaltender slides around to keep the game scoreless.
🧃 is dialed in 🔽🔽🔽@PredsNHL l #Preds pic.twitter.com/elrntxwmBg
— Bally Sports: Preds (@PredsOnBally) May 4, 2024
After a clean first period, the first penalty of the game was finally called on Vancouver’s Brock Boeser for high-sticking. Boeser, who scored a hat trick in Game 4 in Nashville, will spend four minutes in the penalty box.
Nashville’s power play has struggled in this series, converting on just two of their 19 chances. However, they did score with the man advantage in Game 5, with Roman Josi tying the game in the third period before Alexandre Carrier’s eventual game-winner.
Despite having a four-minute power play, Nashville fails to score. Coach Andrew Brunette mentioned in Thursday’s practice that the power play struggles made his team “start squeezing it a little bit.” Although their offense hasn’t capitalized, the crowd remains engaged in the game.
Another round of penalties is given, with two minutes each for roughing to Nashville’s Mark Jankowski and Vancouver’s Nikita Zadarov, who engage in a shoving match after the whistle in front of the Canucks’ net. The teams are now playing four-on-four.
Back at full strength, Nashville increases the physicality. Veteran Ryan McDonagh is seen pushing around a few Canucks players as if he’s the biggest kid on the playground.
Despite the increased intensity, the scoring remains elusive. Just like in Game 5, Vancouver and Nashville are tied at zero with 20 minutes left to play.
