Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

Vancouver, British Columbia – Pius Suter and Dakota Joshua scored 12 seconds apart in the third period, and the Vancouver Canucks rallied to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-2 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday night.

Joshua had two goals and an assist, Elias Lindholm scored, and Thatcher Demko stopped 20 shots for Vancouver, the Pacific Division champions who hosted a playoff game for the first time since 2015.

AP – VOR News Image

Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

“We’ve been talking about being in one-goal games the whole season for these moments, and I love that there was zero panic today, hardly any at all,” J.T. Miller, the Vancouver Canucks forward, said. “We just stayed with it.”

Nashville’s Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly scored, with Juuse Saros making 17 saves.

Suter tied the game for the Canucks 8:59 into the third period after they trailed 2-1. Quin Hughes received a pass from Brock Boeser and fired a shot that deflected off Suter and past Saros from just inside the blue line.

Lindholm checked Jeremy Lauzon behind the Predators’ net and shook him off the puck in 12 seconds. Conor Garland grabbed it up and sent it to Joshua, who scored from the top of the frame to put Vancouver ahead 3-2.

“I’ll never forget it,” Joshua said about his goal. “And it makes you want to keep doing it.”

AP – VOR News Image

Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

Demko maintained the one-goal lead with a series of late saves, including one against Roman Josi with 1:49 remaining.

The Predators removed Saros, and Joshua capitalized, scoring his second goal of the night into an empty net with 1:28 left to secure the victory.

“I think we just stayed patient the entire game and didn’t really push too hard or give anything up when we were down going into the third,” Hughes, who had a pair of assists, said. “We got our looks and we knew we were going to get our looks.”

Nashville finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while Vancouver went 0-for-3.

“Every power play that you don’t score on is a missed opportunity,” Zucker went on to say. “I felt it was great to receive that one. (O’Reilly) and those guys made some terrific plays there, and I thought our penalty kill was excellent tonight.”

Nashville opened the score at 15:15 when Zucker collected a pass from Josi and blasted through traffic from the top of the faceoff circle, beating Demko stick side.

Lindholm knotted the game 47 seconds into the second period with a long wrist shot past Saros.

The Canucks got into penalty trouble early through the second period, taking three calls in just over six minutes. Nashville used their first man advantage as Teddy Blueger was sent to the box for interference.

Gustav Nyquist slid a pass to O’Reilly, who blasted into the top corner of Vancouver’s net. This was O’Reilly’s 26th career playoff goal.

AP – VOR News Image

Dakota Joshua Scores 2 Goals To Help Lift Canucks Past Predators 4-2 In Game 1 Of Playoff Series

“I thought we were starting to take over the game and we fall asleep on a shift in the offensive zone, lose assignments, don’t block a shot and it’s 2-2,” Andrew Brunette, the coach of the Predators, said. “I thought we had a lot of momentum there, so that’s hockey.

“We’ve got to learn from it and move on — Etch A Sketch memory, short term — and move straight ahead.”

NOTES: The Canucks recorded 39 hits, while the Predators had 32. Cole Smith, a Predators forward, led the game with six points. Josi has 32 career postseason assists, which is a Predators record. He also holds the franchise record for postseason points by a defenseman, with 43.

SOURCE – (AP)