Steven Stamkos excelled, scoring two power-play goals to lead Nashville Predators to an emphatic 5-3 win against Vancouver Canucks and end a three-game losing streak while improving their season record to 5-10-3 and recording their second road victory of 2017. This win not only ended their losing streak but was an historic moment as Nashville improved their record to 5-10-3 while also marking their second road triumph of 2018.
Zachary L’Heureux scored his inaugural NHL goal during this victory, joining Roman Josi and Gustav Nyquist to add scoring contributions, with Nyquist even scoring on an empty goal! On defense, Juuse Saros made 24 saves to keep Nashville ahead in this matchup.
Persistent Efforts by Canucks Overwhelmed by Predators’ Might
Aatu Raty, Elias Pettersson, and Kiefer Sherwood managed to score for the Canucks. However, their attempts fell short despite Kevin Lankinen, a former Predator, making 16 saves. The defeat pushed Vancouver’s record to 9-5-3.
The Predators set the pace early with L’Heureux seizing a loose puck and sending it into the net at the 5:28 mark of the first period, signaling the team’s aggressive approach from the start.
Insights from the Predators vs. Canucks Encounter
The Predators had faced difficulties against the Canucks, losing all three encounters in the regular 2023-24 season and a first-round playoff series. Conversely, the Canucks have been struggling to secure wins at Rogers Arena, moving their home record to 3-4-3 and often conceding the first goal in recent games.
Game-Changing Moments from Stamkos and Josi
After trailing 2-1 early in the second period, Nashville made an immediate comeback and ended their five-game goal drought following an incidental penalty by Nils Hoglander. Not soon afterwards, Josi took advantage of an impetus shift by scoring 11 seconds after Saros made an important save against Sherwood’s attempt.
The Predators will conclude their five-game road trip against Seattle’s challenging challenge on Wednesday evening while the Canucks look to rebound against New York Rangers during their six game homestand, ending it on Tuesday evening.