Canucks Eliminate Predators on Late Goal in Regulation to Advance to the Second Round

The Nashville Predators faced the Vancouver Canucks in Game Six of their first-round series on Friday night at Bridgestone Arena, hoping to avoid elimination once more after fending off doom in Game Five with a 2-1 victory. Before the game, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was still debating who to play in goal since backup goalkeeper Casey DeSmith was back in practice following an injury he suffered in Game Three, which forced Arturs Silovs to start the previous two games, but as puck drop drew near, it was decided that Silovs would stay in goal for Vancouver in their hopes of making it to the Western Conference Semifinals. The game would stay scoreless for almost all three periods in Game Six, turning into a defensive duel between two teams unwilling to let up the game-winning goal. But Canucks center Pius Suter's late third-period goal stunned the Nashville crowd and sent the Canucks bench into a frenzy as Vancouver defeated the Predators 1-0 to move on to the next round. 

The first 20 minutes of the game started out at a fast pace as both sides combined for 11 shots on goal, with each receiving good looks on goal. However, the game would remain scoreless as they entered the second period. In the second period, six minutes into the frame, Canucks winger Brock Boeser would be called for a high-sticking double minor penalty against Jeremy Lauzon that would send Nashville to a four-minute power play opportunity. However, the Predators could only muster two shots on goals during the man-advantage and the contest would remain scoreless. Just like the two teams did in Game Five, the teams would enter the final period of regulation tied at 0-0 after the opening 40 minutes of play, with neither netminder faltering in the slightest. 

With 1:39 left in regulation, the Canucks would light the lamp first after 58 minutes of scoreless play in which neither team was able to score the first goal of the game. Boeser backhanded the puck behind the net to Suter, who slapped it past Predators goalie Juuse Saros’ outstretched right pad and into the net to take a 1-0 lead. With one minute remaining, the Predators would pull Saros for the extra attacker looking to get the game-tying goal to keep their season alive. Even though they had a six-on-four man advantage after Canucks center Elias Lindholm was called for a cross-checking penalty with 33 seconds remaining, the Predators would, however, see their season end as the Canucks held on to defeat the Predators 1-0 in Game Six and advance to the second round against the Edmonton Oilers.