Facing a 2-1 series deficit, the second home game of the series was a must-win for the Predators, and with Dante Fabbro entering the lineup for the injured Spencer Statsney and a surprise goaltender switch for Vancouver, would Nashville be able to respond in an important Game 4?
First Period
Another high-energy start from the fans, once again raining down six catfish on the ice prior to puck drop. However, that wouldn’t translate on the ice, as the Canucks scored on their first shot of the night, with Brock Boeser getting the puck past Juuse Saros. However, the Predators were not deterred, playing a lot looser than in the first three games of the series and applying some early pressure despite the deficit.
After Filip Forsberg was sent to the box for interference on Tyler Myers, the Canucks’ Elias Lindholm got called for interference himself just four seconds into the power play, so play headed to 4 on 4. Just a minute later, Mark Jankowski tipped a Jeremy Lauzon shot from the top of the circles and got past goaltender Arturs Silovs to tie the game at one.
The Canucks started to gain some momentum after the Predators goal, but couldn’t get sustained pressure on Juuse Saros. Nashville took over the final five minutes in terms of possession, but more importantly, Roman Josi took a deflected puck to his ear. Despite blood dripping down onto his jersey, Josi tried to come back out for another shift but was sent to the tunnel for medical attention and would not return in the first.
The Predators ended the period with a 9-8 lead in shots and the Captain’s status in question.
Second Period
Nashville dominated the second period, looking nothing like the team we saw in the first three games. They were able to outrun the Canucks in transition and kept possession with expert passing and smart forechecking. Roman Josi reentered the game, after not coming on the ice initially, and immediately created a high-danger opportunity.
Keeping up the pressure on both ends, a smart defensive play by Kiefer Sherwood led to another breakout a few seconds later, with Gustav Nyquist taking a great Ryan O’Reilly pass into a two on one and sniping a shot high past Silovs, giving the Predators their first lead of the game 2-1.
The remainder of the period was tight, the Canucks slowing Nashville down slightly, and the physical nature of the game intensified, capped off by coincidental roughing minors on Colton Sissons and Teddy Blueger just two seconds away from intermission. The Preds would start the third with another chance at the four on four.
Third Period
The beginning and end of the third period couldn’t have been more different. Just 12 seconds into the period, Roman Josi sent a shot from the left side of the net to a wide-open Filip Forsberg, who was able to deflect the puck off his skate into the net. The Predators started the third with yet another goal, taking a 3-1 lead (sound familiar?).
The Predators suffocated the Canucks throughout the next 15 minutes, dominating possession and continuing to apply pressure on Vancouver’s defense. With about three minutes remaining, the Canucks pulled their goaltender and then all hell broke loose. Shortly thereafter, Brock Boeser notched his second of the game on the 6 on 5, getting assists from Lindholm and Miller to bring the Canucks back within one.
After the goal, Nashville got a fantastic opportunity with the net empty–Colton Sissons (with a defender on him) backhanded the puck at the empty net about 20 feet away, but it bounced off the post. A few seconds later, Gustav Nyquist fell down chasing a puck and Boeser scored the game-tying goal with just six seconds remaining, picking up the hat trick and sending the game to overtime.
Overtime
It wouldn’t take long for the Canucks to strike. A takeaway from Brock Boeser sent the Canucks to the Predators end, and after a missed Quinn Hughes shot, Elias Lindholm fired a shot in past Saros unassisted. A shocked Predators team and fans headed to the exits stunned, now facing elimination after a tied series had seemed all but inevitable just 10 minutes earlier.