Predators blow late lead, trail 3-1 in playoff series

With three minutes left in regulation of Sunday’s playoff game against Vancouver, the Predators had every reason to believe they were on the way to squaring this first-round series.

A few moments later, they’d made franchise history — of the wrong kind, unfortunately.

In a stunning turnaround of a Game Four the Predators had dominated, the Canucks scored twice within the final three minutes of the third period, then claimed a 4-3 victory when Elias Lindholm scored just 1:02 into the overtime session.

Seemingly in the blink of an eye, the Predators found themselves trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoff series — one loss from elimination — with Game Five scheduled for 9 p.m. CT Tuesday in Vancouver.

The Canucks won despite getting outshot 30-20 in Game 4, and by a combined 60-32 margin in the two games (both victories for Vancouver) at Bridgestone Arena.

Sunday’s contest marked the first time in franchise history the Predators had lost a playoff game when leading by two goals in the third period.

“I thought for 55 minutes we played really well,” Predators captain Roman Josi said. “Even in the third period, I thought … we get a goal early and I felt like we kept pushing, kept being aggressive, didn’t give them much. Couldn’t get that fourth goal and then obviously a crazy ending.”

Added Predators coach Andrew Brunette: “It happens. This one was tough, especially the way we played I think all game. Really liked our third period. Just kind of broke down and lost a little composure near the end.”

Vancouver’s Brock Boeser, who posted a hat trick, scored two six-on-five goals after the Canucks pulled goalie Arturs Silovs with about 3:20 left in regulation. Boeser cut Nashville’s lead to 3-2 with 2:47 remaining with a backdoor score, then followed up his own rebound to stuff home the tying tally with only eight ticks of the clock left.

In between those goals, Preds forward Colton Sissons had an opportunity to clinch the contest, but his backhand try at an empty net from the sideboards bounced off the right goalpost.

“Obviously he’s trying to score, but it hits the post and then they score two,” Josi said. “That’s just unlucky. There’s nothing else you can say. It’s just really unlucky. He’s trying to score. Everybody was trying to do the same and it just didn’t work out.”

Lindholm, wide open in front of the crease, scored the game-winner at point-blank range after taking Conor Garland’s pass from behind the net.

“On [the two third-period goals], we kind of got beat up ice, and then … had a play to clear it, kind of flubbed it a little bit and then we got exposed,” Brunette said. “Again, they’re going to get their looks. A lot of things happened. I think tonight we gave up a face-off goal and two six-on-five goals, and I don’t know if I’ve been in too many games where you lose games doing that.”

The Predators were left wondering what might have been, as they have for much of this series.

Nashville has held the lead going into the third period in three of the series’ four games, has outshot Vancouver 100-71 in four games and has faced back-up goalies in three of the four contests. But despite all those advantages, the Preds find themselves needing to win three straight games — two of which would be played in Vancouver.

“We like our game for the most part in this series, especially here at home,” Preds forward Gustav Nyquist said. “There’s lots to like in our game. Just got to flush [Sunday’s loss] and keep going.”

Despite the Canucks scoring on their first shot on goal — for the second straight contest — the Predators’ relentless forecheck eventually paid dividends, as Mark Jankowski, Nyquist and Filip Forsberg scored to put Nashville ahead 3-1 early in the third period.

As the third wore on, and the Canucks mounted little in the way of an attack, it looked more and more as if the Predators would celebrate their first home playoff win since May 2021.

It wasn’t to be.

“I think we’ve been getting better and better in the series, and I thought tonight was our best game probably,” Josi said. “Definitely deserved to win. But yeah, once we get on that plane to Vancouver tomorrow, we got to forget about this one.”

Perhaps easier said than done.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.