Vancouver Canucks throw Nashville Predators on brink of elimination – NHL playoffs, game 4
Vancouver Canucks threw Nashville Predators on the verge of elimination in game four after they won 4-2 at the sold out Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday.
American All-Star Ryan Kesler remained Vancouver Canucks main go to man for goals as he broke the tie in the final period. The Canucks after having been defeated at home once in game two went on to win consecutive games in Nashville against the Predators.
Christian Ehrhoff notched his second of the season, 15 minutes into the first period assisted by both the Sedin brothers, Henrik and Daniel Sedin. Joel Ward levelled the match with 52 seconds remaining on Vancouver’s first penalty of the period when Sami
Salo, who was back in the line-up for the first time since being injured in game six against Chicago, was sent to the benches for delaying the game.
Nashville missed two added man advantages during the next 20 minutes of regulation time but Alexander Edler fired a slap-shot from the blue line which missed multiple Nashville defensemen and went cleanly through their goalkeeper Pekka Rinne.
Cody Franson got his first of the postseason by sliding the puck through Roberto Luongo’s legs after missing a shot in the first period on which Ward capitalised on.
The tie-maker came at a time of desperation assisted by Ward himself, nearly four minutes into the final period. The tie did not last long. Ryan Kesler took charge of the puck from centre-ice and tricked a number of Nashville defensemen to get in front of
their goalie. He made a fast wrist shot from nearly 10 feet away which gave them the lead midway through.
Nashville forward, Ryan Suter was sent to the benches for their only penalty of the period which Kesler immediately took advantage of. He was followed by Henrik Sedin with 21 seconds remaining for his first of the playoffs on an empty net after capturing
two assists throughout the match.
Both teams are scheduled to meet again for game five of the Western Conference semi-finals, this time in Vancouver on Saturday where the Canucks will have a chance to advance into the divisional finals after eliminating the Predators at home.
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