Canucks 1, Predators 0: What We Learned in chance to close out series

Article content

Silovs versus Saros. Sounds like something you’d see on a boxing promo marquee.

Article content

Among the bright lights of Music City on a frenetic Friday night, it was resolute rookie Arturs Silovs and athletic veteran Juuse Saros who shone the brightest by exchanging psychological blows with a series of spectacular playoff saves.

Article content

And with so much at stake as the Vancouver Canucks attempted to send the Nashville Predators to the canvas by clinching the first-round series with a Game 6 triumph, it was going to be who could solve a stopper to either end or extend the matchup drama.

And then it finally happened late in the third period.

ROUND 2! SIGN UP TO GET YOUR FREE CANUCKS PLAYOFF POSTERS: We are proud to partner with the Vancouver Canucks to bring you this year’s edition of the longtime Province tradition, the Canucks Playoff Poster series. CLICK HERE to get a new player poster emailed to you every game day, plus all the posters from Round 1!

Article content

The much-maligned Elias Pettersson kept the puck in along the sideboards, Brock Boeser threaded a back pass to a wide open Pius Suter at top of the crease and he snapped it home for the decisive dagger at 18:21.

Still, it wasn’t over.

Elias Lindholm took a penalty with 33.9 seconds remaining and the penalty kill had to rise to the occasion again to seal a 1-0 victory. With Saros pulled, Tyler Myers blocked a hot shot and Silovs then sprawled with no stick as time elapsed for his first NHL shutout on 28 saves.

And at 23 years, 42 days, he’s also the youngest Canucks stopper to post a shutout. Talk about an ‘Arty Party’.

So, goodbye Predators. Hello, Edmonton Oilers.

It looked like Suter was going to break the deadlock early in the third period.

Article content

Article content

He tracked a Boeser shot purposely put off the backboards and was alone at side of the net. However, Saros went post-to-post and got his right pad on the shot. Suter simply shook his head yet again. He had five shots.

Myers then teed one up through a maze that Saros didn’t see but was in position. A Teddy Blueger shot on a 4-on-2 advantage was then blocked and Ilya Mikheyev’s slot shot was gloved. And Boeser’s backhand deke on a 2-on-1 was denied by the blocker.

And this time, the Canucks weren’t plagued by a lack of shots. They had seven of the first eight in the third period and finished with 29.

Here’s what else we learned as the Canucks advance to the second round:

Silovs, penalty kill to rescue

The Canucks wouldn’t have been in contention to break a scoreless struggle in the second period if not for Silovs and a penalty kill that has transitioned from pitiful to potent. 

Article content

From a laughable league low of 63.8 per cent in November of 2019, to going 19-for-21 in this series and operating at 93.8 per cent in the last month, it made another statement when it mattered most.

And so did Silovs.

With Boeser assessed a questionable double-minor for a high stick on Jeremy Lauzon, it was Silovs and the penalty kill that rode to the rescue.

It started with Silovs taking a high hard shot off the chest and Nikita Zadorov with the good stick to deny a pass headed for an open Ryan O’Reilly at side of the net. Pettersson was then denied on a wrist shot off a short-handed rush before Silovs made a marvellous toe save off Filip Forsberg.

Of course, that was just one side of the fight card.

On the other side, it was Saros landing blows. Already adept at getting to rimmed shots to negate the forecheck, he had a strong second period.

Article content

Lindholm had two good looks and put one off the goalie’s shoulder. A puck then went off Dakota Joshua’s skate and forced a quick Saros pivot. Suter then went to one knee to try and convert from a sharp angle.

J.T. Miller was denied off the rush and Suter on the rebound. Miller got to a Quinn Hughes rebound but his backhander was covered up.

Sending the strong message

The rationale went something like this Friday morning.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet once again refused to name his starter — a level of gamesmanship is always prominent in the playoffs — but made the prudent Game 6 call by giving Silovs the cage again.

A third-straight start for the playoff newbie made sense on several levels. He earned it on merit and Casey DeSmith got another game as the back-up. It would ensure his minor lower-body ailment wasn’t going to hinder quick movements.

Article content

One fraction of a second late on a shot could decide any series. It’s one reason why Silovs was in and he certainly delivered.

Goalies savour a quick feel for the puck and he executed a pair of sharp back-to-back saves. First, he sealed up the short side on Forsberg and then a left-pad denial on Anthony Beauviller. 

He followed that up with a well-timed, poke-check on Gustav Nyquist, who had a step on Carson Soucy. And when Silovs didn’t bite on a Luke Evangelista deke to the backhand at top of the crease, you could tell he was dialled in.

Which, of course, brings up a pleasant problem. What do you do know? Does Silovs start Round 2, or is it DeSmith. Hard not to ride the kid.

What was Pettersson plan?

The math added up to a pressing problem.

Article content

Pettersson had no goals, seven shots and nine were blocked through the first five games.

In a tight series where one dominant shift could determine the outcome, the Lotto Line was re-united to start Game 6. And it made another appearance final minute of the first period with an offensive-zone face-off to generate zone time.

In theory, it made sense. In reality, the Canucks had five shots in the first period and the Predators blocked seven. Pettersson’s one attempt in the opening frame was blocked and he has just one goal in his last 19 games. He finished with one shot and three attempts.

So, is it a groin, wrist or pressure to perform?

Still, with team shots at a premium in this series — their 92 shots through five games were second-lowest since 1960 — you have to throw all your chips on the table. Yes, Pettersson was still having trouble in traffic, trying to threat low-percentage passes, and playing at pace through neutral zone.

Article content

That said, when you’re not scoring, contribute in other ways.

Pettersson sped away on his shorthanded chance, and while his wrist shot was snagged, it was encouraging. He moved better and didn’t hesitate.

[email protected]

Read more of our Canucks vs Predators playoff coverage:

•Canucks: How Rick Tocchet went from panel to bench to Jack Adams Award finalist
• Canucks vs. Predators: How J.T. Miller found his emotional focus
• #ScottRoadCellies: Where Canucks culture, community and car flags collide

GET YOUR CANUCKS PLAYOFF POSTERS: We are proud to partner with the Vancouver Canucks to bring you this year’s edition of the longtime Province tradition, the Canucks Playoff Poster series. CLICK HERE to get a new player poster emailed to you every game day!

Article content