Vancouver Canucks Blast Nashville Predators out of Playoff Race - NHL Update
Nashville knew that it would be hard going up against the third place Canucks and their worst fears came true on Monday, April 15, 2013, as Vancouver blasted the Predators, 5-2, and eliminated them from the 2013 National Hockey League (NHL) playoff race.
Nashville stood at number 13 in the Western Conference and their fans knew that it was just a matter of time before the team with just 38 points would be totally eliminated and going up against Vancouver in their make it or break it matchup made it all that
more clear.
Vancouver’s All-Star American forward was back after missing 31 games with two different injuries and remained perfect against Nashville by potting two goals on as many shots.
"Ha," Kesler said, according to NHL.com. "A little bit. I was able to work on my shot when I was off there so I think that's really coming into form. It's just a product of everyone around me playing well."
Kesler scored the opening goal and closed off the match as well with his second being with less than five minutes left in the third and final round of regulation.
Nashville certainly lost a lot of confidence as they managed to get past the first round during the last postseason, but were unable to see anything coming back to them this time around during the shortened season.
"It's frustrating, I don't think anyone is happy with what has gone on this year," Hal Gill said. "I guess it's something we'll … when we're done with the season we'll look back on it and try and evaluate it, but right now, it's a tough pill to swallow.
You want to go out and give everything you got every night, and to play for nothing is tough.”
Vancouver stands at number three in the West at the moment with 54 points, below the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks. They are five points ahead of North Western rivals, the Minnesota Wild, and stand far above the rest as Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames
and Colorado Avalanche are well below the playoff division line.
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