Vancouver Canucks v Nashville Predators Game 3 Review

Nashville had the chance to take the series lead on home ice after sharing the 2 games in Vancouver 1-1.

It was the Predators who took the lead in this one as well. It was Legwand who stole the puck behind the net as the Canucks tried to mount a powerplay attack and as he took it to the net on a wraparound the loose puck was picked up by Suter, fired across to the opposite wing to Spaling who then made the pass back across the crease to find Legwand now free to knock the puck in. It had taken just over 10 minutes of the 1st period.

It stayed this way until the start of the 2nd period when Kesler tied the game up 1-1. There was a turnover in the attacking third by Nashville that led to a 2 on 1. This ended as a 4 on 3 and some neat passing between Daniel Sedin and Ehrhoff led to the defenceman getting to the goal line and putting it back infront for Kesler to tap it in behind Rinne. it was a powerplay goal and Nashville had got caught with too many players going forward.

The Canucks were outshooting the Predators 24-12 by the end of the 2nd period as Nashville again were struggling to get pucks on net.

Vancouver were 2-1 up just 3 minutes into the 3rd period as Higgins got the puck behind his defenceman and skated in on Rinne from the wing, took it to the net and lost control but Kesler beat the netminder to it and with Rinne out of position, Kesler fed it back to Higgins and he swivelled and put the puck into a mostly unguarded net.

The game was heading into its final 7 minutes when Nashville got the game back equal. It was Ward who picked up a loose puck from an offensive zone face off, took the puck around the net and swept it under Luongo and into the net.

The series headed to overtime for the 2nd game running but this time there was a different outcome.
10 minutes in and with Shea Weber sitting in the Nashville penalty box, Kesler got a tip on a Samuelsson wrist shot and sent the puck between Rinne's legs to give Vancouver a 3-2 win.

Rinne was superb again, making 44 saves throughout the game. Nashville managed 30 but 14 of them came in the 3rd period alone. There is a saying if you don't shoot, you don't score. This may be the downfall to Nashville in this series. They have got to find a way to create more chances and get more of the puck on net. If they can do this they at least give themselves the chance of picking up deflected goals or rebound chances.

Nashville now need to get the next game at Bridgestone arena to ensure they head back to Vancouver at least level.