Vancouver were looking to be the first team through to the Western Conference Final whilst Nashville hoped to take this series through to a game 7.
Henrik Sedin took a high sticking penalty just 50 seconds into the game to give Nashville an early powerplay and the chance to take the lead. Luongo managed to fight off a couple of Predators shots including a one from Kostitsyn from right infront of him and the game remained scoreless.
Kesler and Weber had an altercation at 4.33 as Kesler drove to the front of the net and took Rinne out into the back of the net. It looked like Weber had actually taken him into the keeper but the call was for goaltender interference on Kesler whilst Weber and Bieksa took roughing penalties. It was another powerplay chance for Nashville but again they failed to get much going and it was another kill for the Canucks.
Mayson Raymond gave the Canucks the lead at 7.45 as Suter made a defensive error, trying to pass to Weber as Kesler pressured him near the net. Kesler read the pass and played it out infront to Raymond who went backhand around Rinne to slide it into the net.
At 8.52 Tootoo took a penalty for embelishment as he tried to win an oscar for a theatrical dive after barely being hit. A bad penalty to take as it took less then 30 seconds for Daniel Sedin to tap the puck into the net as Rinne missed a backhand centre from Henrik Sedin that was deflected by Kesler to get past the netminder.
There was a 3rd powerplay chance at 11.35 for the Predators as Edler went for a cross check but this was wiped out only 29 seconds later as Erat took 2 minutes for tripping.
A slashing call with 3.49 left on Higgins gave Nashville a final powerplay chance of the period but with only 1 shot on net during it they failed again to get a goal.
Nashville had started the game well but didn't get the powerplay going and then shot themselves in the foot twice to give up soft goals that gave the Canucks their 2-0 1st period advantage.
Nashville scored a lucky goal with 3.31 gone in the 2nd as Legwand through the puck from the side of the net at Luongo. The netminder made the save with his paddle and layed back into his net to try and cover the puck. The referee pointed for the goal straight away indicating the puck had crossed the line and after review it was given as good.
Fisher had a great chance to level the game a minute or so later but sent his shot high over the net as he got free in the circle on a partial 2 on 1.
An interference call at 8.09 on Erat gave the Canucks a powerplay chance to get back their 2 goal lead but only managed 2 shots that were comfortable dealt with by Rinne.
Erat had a chance on a partial brekaway but as he bore down on Luongo in the Canucks net a defenceman got back to make a good check and he failed to get a decent shot away.
A late powerplay chance in the period for Nashville saw them produce their best one of the game but they still couldn't tie the game up and it headed into the 3rd with Vancouver still leading by a goal.
The third period started as a very defensive affair with the Canucks limiting the Predators to having to dump and chase the puck, giving them no easy access into the zone to set anything up. Vancouver were happy just to keep chipping the puck out of their zone were focusing on keeping their 1 goal lead.
This continued for most of the period and it headed into the final 5 minutes with no penalties called in the period and no clear cut chances for either team to add to the scoreboard.
With 2.58 remaining Tootoo put the first good shot of the period on net but Luongo got square to it and covered it in his padding.
Nashville pulled Rinne with 1.30 left and struggled to get the puck out of their own zone and were lucky not to concede the 3rd goal. They ended up icing the puck though and with 40 seconds left Rinne was back in the net as they had to face off in the defensive zone.
Weber took a couple of blasts at the net in the dying seconds but couldn't get anything through and Nashville's playoffs ended as the Canucks went through to the Western Conference Final.
Nashville outshot the Canucks 24-19 but for me they just didn't go for it as i would have expected in that 3rd period. They had only 6 shots in the last 20 minutes and im not sure if it was due to good defending by Vancouver to limit them or if they had just run out of ideas come the end. They missed their early powerplay chances and gave up 2 bad, bad goals that ultimately cost them this game and the chance of a game 7.
Being fair though, they did extremely well to get themselves into this postion and have just had their best playoff run in franchise history. Congratulations to the Vancouver Canucks though who have now battled through 2 very tough match ups and will face a 3rd in the Conference Final be it against the Sharks or the Redwings.
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