Vancouver Canucks Take 2-1 Lead in Semi-Final Series against Nashville Predators –NHL Playoffs Game 3
Vancouver’s American player, Ryan Kesler, stepped up his game and scored twice including the overtime game-winner for his team as the Canucks took a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semi-final series against the Nashville Predators at the Bridgestone Arena
in Nashville, Tennessee on Tuesday.
The Canucks were close to defeat but ended up winning in an uneasy overtime, 3-2, in the highest scoring game between the two teams so far in this series.
David Legwand scored the game’s opening goal for Nashville when he played a backhand without Jerred Smithson who was penalised for roughing up Vancouver’s Aaron Rome. Ryan Kesler finally got his first goal of the postseason on a power play which carried
over from the first period. Kesler had an easy opportunity in the opening minute of the second period when he tipped in Christian Ehrhoff’s shot as it slid behind a distracted Pekka Rinne.
Christopher Higgins broke the tie between the two teams on a cross-ice pass from Kesler, three minutes into the final period. The sell-out crowd went wild after Higgins gained an early lead putting Nashville on the verge of losing. Fortunately for them,
Joel Ward tied up the match nearly 10 minutes later which forced overtime, still giving them a chance to overtake the game.
Vancouver’s coach Alain Vigneault’s strategy worked out just as he had planned entering game three. He moved Alex Burrows back with the Sedin twins and thus enabling players like Kesler to take more shots. Vancouver outshot Nashville 47-30 throughout the
competition and Kesler’s second tip-in at the 10:45 mark in overtime gave them the game. This time it was Mikael Samuelsson’s shot that had nearly touched the net before Kesler could graze it with his stick to force it in. It was his second goal of the playoffs
and both on power plays, only this time when Captain Shea Weber was sent to the benches for hooking Kesler.
Game four is scheduled for Thursday in Nashville where the Canucks will have a chance to put the Predators on the verge of elimination to advance to the conference finals.
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