After earning a split in the first two games in Vancouver, the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks play in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference quarterfinal on Friday at Bridgestone Arena (6:30 p.m., TBS, Bally Sports South).
The Predators earned a hard-fought 4-1 win in Game 2 on Tuesday in Vancouver to even the series at a game apiece.
Predators forward Filip Forsberg scored his first goal of the playoffs in Tuesday’s win against the Canucks, which seemed to jumpstart Nashville’s offense in what’s been a physical playoff series through two games.
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Nashville Predators live score updates vs. Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of the NHL playoffs
Third period
Nashville defenseman Spencer Stastney left the Nashville bench late in the second period of Game 3. He did not return to the bench at the start of the third period.
Stastney exited the game for about seven game minutes after taking a hit to the head from Vancouver’s Dakota Joshua.
Second period
Game 3 is intense, both teams are getting after each other. Brock Boeser put the Canucks up, 2-0, with a power play goal early in the period.
Nashville outshot Vancouver, 11-6, in the second period and held a 16-9 advantage through two periods. Nashville leads in faceoffs (67%-33%) and has outhit Vancouver, 21-18.
Vancouver has 16 blocked shots against Nashville’s 10.
Just over a minute into the 4-on-4, Nashville’s Gustav Nyquist was called for a cross-check against Vancouver’s JT Miller, who was called for a slash.
The teams will play 3-on-3 for 56 seconds, at least.
Neither team scored from the penalties, but the animosity between the two teams is growing more fierce by the minute.
Shots from Filip Forsberg and Luke Evangelista were saved by Casey DeSmith, including Evangelista’s shot from just outside the crease.
Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes held Evangelista near the net and was going to be sent to the penalty box and give the Predators a power play. However, Evangelista and Hughes were wrestling with each other behind the net. Evangelista was issued a minor penalty for roughing.
The teams will play two minutes of 4-on-4 hockey.
Brock Boeser scored his first career playoff goal with a tip-in goal with 15:27 left in the second period. JT Miller, who scored the first goal of the game, fired a saucer pass toward Boeser near the Predator crease.
Quinn Hughes picked up his second assist of the night.
Colton Sissons fired a slap shot at Casey DeSmith, the shot beat DeSmith and leaked into the crease. The puck stopped in the crease and was cleared out by the Canuck defense.
It’s still 1-0, Vancouver, two minutes into the period.
First period
Vancouver killed off three penalties while scoring a power play goal of its own to take a 1-0 lead after the first period at Bridgestone Arena.
Nashville has dominated virtually every aspect of the game, but going 0-for-3 on the power play leaves the Predators down one.
The Predators are leading faceoff percentage (77%-23%), hits (12-9), shots on goal (5-3) and takeaways (3-1). The Canucks lead blocked shots, 8-4.
Vancouver’s Teddy Blueger shot the puck over the glass in the defensive zone and was called for a delay of game with 2:28 left in the first period.
Nashville is 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period.
The Predators missed out on their third power play opportunity of the first period and generated one shot.
Ryan McDonagh was called for hooking 1:06 after the Canucks scored the game’s first goal.
Vancouver is 1-for-1 on the power play with one shot.
The Predators killed off the penalty and Vancouver generated two shots.
One shot, one goal for the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 against the Nashville Predators.
JT Miller scored his first goal of the series with a power play goal with 6:37 left in the first period at Bridgestone Arena.
Nashville had attempted to clear the puck on the penalty kill, but the puck stayed in the Canucks’ offensive zone. Miller fired the shot from just beyond the faceoff circle and beat Predators goaltender Juuse Saros glove side.
Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson were credited with assists on the goal.
Nashville’s Michael McCarron was whistled for goaltender interference against Casey DeSmith.
Vancouver had just killed off the second Nashville power play with 7:32 to play in the first period.
Filip Forsberg drew a penalty on a Predators’ rush when Vancouver’s Tyler Myers high-sticked the Nashville forward.
The Predators go on the power play again with 9:53 to play in the first period.
Nashville generated one shot on their second power play of the game but is now 0-for-2 on the man-advantage.
Nashville defenseman Spencer Stastney took a hit to the head on the end boards from Dakota Joshua early in the first period.
Stastney exited the game with 15:03 left in the first period. Joshua was issued a two-minute minor penalty.
Nashville did not register a shot on the power play but had one shot attempt.
Stastney returned to the ice just a few minutes later and blocked a shot.
Colbie Caillat sang the United States national anthem before Game 3 at Bridgestone Arena.
Cathy Mullins sang “Oh, Canada” before Caillat sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”
Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist lead the top forward line for the Nashville Predators in Game 3 against the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan McDonagh and Roman Josi are the top defensive pairing for the Predators.
Nashville’s Juuse Saros starts in net for the third game of the series. Saros has a 2.01 goals-against average with a .895 save percentage in the first two games of the series.
Vancouver won Game 1, 4-2, on Sunday; Nashville won Game 2, 4-1, on Tuesday.
Vancouver’s Casey DeSmith made 12 saves in the Game 2 loss. He has a 2.89 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage in the playoffs. DeSmith started Game 2 after starter Thatcher Demko suffered an injury in Game 1. Demko is listed as week-to-week and is not expected to play in Game 3.
- TV channels: Bally Sports South locally, TBS nationally
- Stream: Bally Sports App, FUBO (free trial)
Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
- Date: Friday, April 26
- Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, April 25
- Puck line: Predators -1.5 at +220, Canucks +1.5 at -275
- total goals: 6 goals
- Money line: Predators -115, Canucks -105
All times Central
Game 1: Canucks 4, Predators 2
Game 2: Predators 4, Canucks 1
Game 3: Vancouver at Nashville; 6:30 pm CT, Friday, April 26 on TBS and Bally Sports South
Game 4: Vancouver at Nashville; 4 pm CT, Sunday, April 28 on TBS, truTV and Bally Sports South
Game 5: Nashville at Vancouver; Time TBD on Tuesday, April 30 on Bally Sports South locally, TBD nationally
Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Nashville; TBD on Friday, May 3
Game 7 (if necessary): Nashville at Vancouver; TBD on Sunday, May 5
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