One of the maddest introductions i've ever seen for this game as Elvis Costello started it by playing out to the crowd from what looked like one of the executive boxes at the back of the arena.
To the action and Kesler had a good shot early on but fired it straight at Rinne and he was able to cover up. Vancouver were having the majority of the puck early on but not creating too much through the first 5 minutes. Nashville had started better than in game 1 but were still being outplayed by the Canucks.
Erat had a good chance with 7 minutes gone, taking the puck to the net on his backhand but Luongo did well to stave of the threat.
An almighty scramble infront of Luongo after to minutes almost saw the Predators take the lead as their forwards crashed the net to try and jam the puck into the net as it was uncovered in the crease, the netminder twice getting a piece of it to keep it out.
The first powerplay of the game went to Nashville as Samuelsson went for interference with 13.07 gone in the period. The Predators struggled to get any possesion in the Canucks zone though and the penalty was easily killed off.
The period ended 0-0 but the Predtors were playing better. They outshot the Canucks 12-6 and were competing for the puck much better.
The Canucks had the lead at just 2 minutes into the 2nd as they got a short handed goal through Burrows. Ehrhoff was off for hooking but that made no difference as Burrows made a nice 1 to with Kesler and as he tried to get it back to Kesler it hit the defenceman's leg and quickly back to Burrows stick who fired it in near post on Rinne who was moving across his net to anticipate the attempted pass. Thats what gave Burrows the room at the near post.
A busy powerplay as Erat got whacked in the ear by Shea Weber blast, Kesler and Burrows went on another shorthanded breakaway that was broken up and sent back to the Vancouver end in a 3 on 1 as Fisher was stopped by Luongo and the 2nd period had started with both teams going end to end.
Vancouver got the next powerplay with Tootoo taking a tripping call at 7.33. The Predators killed this one off pretty comfortably and the game moved towards the end of the 2nd still at 1-0 to the Canucks.
Both teams wer still creating shots on goal but nothing was troubling either netminder and the score reamaind 1-0 come the end of the 2nd period. Luongo had now not conceeded in the series so far and we were at the same position as we were in game 1.
Less than 3 minutes into the period the Predators were putting pressure on the Canucks net with there being acouple of scrambles infront and Smithson just missing out on getting the game level. A couple of blasts, one by Weber were also saved comfortably by Luongo who just wasn' giving anything up.
Almost a full minute of Nashville pressure halfway through the period still couldn't see them get the equaliser as they swarmed the Vancouver net, moving the puck from deep to the point for shots as well as trying some moves to take it to the net to get it in as well.
Tootoo made a steal mid ice and went 1 on 1 with Luongo and yet again the netminder was the one to win the duel, making the save with his legs as Tootoo opted for the quick shot rather than trying a deke move.
The Predators finally managed to get a puck past Luongo and into the net with 1.07 left on the period. Nashville dumped the puck in deep to allow them to get Rinne off at the other end and as Suter chased it behind the line he just threw it back towards the net and managed to get it in off the skate of Luongo. The netminder had made 35 saves to this point and would have been dissapointed that such a soft one got past him.
Vancouver nearly came straight back to win it before overtime with a pass through the crease just missing the far post as forwards drove the net to try and get a tip on it as well. However, it would be overtime that the game would head into. This was no more than the Predators deserved as they outshot the Canucks 36-15 through the first 3 periods.
It was then to be the Rinne show in overtime as he 1st made a good save from Henrik Sedin infront on a rebound, getting a leg onto his shot and deflecting the puck away.
Rinne absolutey robbed Bieksa diving across the crease after Daniel Sedin found him wide open at the back door and it looked for certain Bieksa would tap it into the net to win the game. He made another save on LaPierre with less than a minute left as the forward had created some space for himself between the circles with a lovely deke.
There was a 2nd overtime period in which Daniel Sedin had a chance early on off a rebound but Rinne was equal to that as well. The netminder had now pulled off 3 or 4 top saves to keep his team in the game.
It was because of this stellar netminding the Predators were still in it to get a winner deep into the 2nd overtime period as Halischuk took a pass from Spaling and wristed it high glove side past Luongo from inside the circle at 14.51.
The Predators had upped their game and were on top for most of the game and had now levelled the series 1-1. The Canucks created the better chances come the overtime stage but after firing in 18 overtime shots they still hadn't penetrated Rinne and Nashville stole an away ice win.
Both netminders were superb. Luongo looked to have given his team another 1-0 win until that late lasp meant the game into overtime. Rinne, after being quiet through 3 periods was then called upon to make the big saves he has been making all season and he didn't fail, really keeping his team in with the chance of the win.
An interesting series now heads to Nashville in a couple of days for game 3.
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