The Vancouver Canucks will host the Nashville Predators on day two of the NHL playoffs at Rogers Arena for Game 1 of the first round. The game will kick off at 10:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, with ESPN broadcasting it live.
Game details:
- Game: Round 1, Game 1
- Teams: Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators
- Date: April 21, 2024
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- TV Information: ESPN
- Live Streaming: Hulu and Fubo (free trial)
- Location: Rogers Arena
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators: Regular season face-offs
The Canucks hold the edge in the regular-season matchups, having swept the series with three wins against the Predators. However, both teams understand that regular-season success doesn't guarantee playoff victories.
- Oct. 24 (road, 3-2 W)
- Oct. 31 (home, 5-2 W)
- Dec. 19 (road, 5-2 W)
Recap of recent performances
Both teams enter the playoffs with losses in their previous games. Vancouver suffered a 4-2 defeat against the Winnipeg Jets, while Nashville fell short against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a score of 4-2. Despite these setbacks, the playoffs' motivation will factor in.
Playoff history and expectations
For Nashville, this marks their ninth playoff berth in the past ten seasons, showcasing their consistency in reaching the postseason. However, they are keen on translating this achievement into a deep playoff run, aiming to overcome their last series victory in 2018.
On the other hand, Vancouver seeks to build on its previous playoff successes, including its last series victory in the 2020 Edmonton bubble.
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators: Players to watch
A key highlight of this series is the Norris Trophy showdown between Quinn Hughes of the Canucks and Predators' captain Roman Josi. Both defensemen have had outstanding seasons, contributing significantly to their teams' success. Filip Forsberg leads the Predators on offense with 94 points, setting a franchise record with 48 goals. J.T. Miller stands out for the Canucks with 103 points.
Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators: Goaltending battle
In goal, Juuse Saros aims to secure his first playoff series victory for Nashville, while Thatcher Demko returns for the Canucks after recovering from a knee injury. Both goalies have had solid performances during the season, setting the stage for a thrilling goaltending battle.
Thatcher Demko's regular season stats:
- Games Played (GP): 51
- Games Started (GS): 51
- Wins: 35
- Losses (L): 14
- Overtime Losses (OTL): 2
- Goals Against (GA): 123
- Goals Against Average (GA/G): 2.45
- Shots Against (SA): 1492
- Saves (SV): 1369
- Save Percentage (SV%): .918
- Shutouts (SO): 5
- Time on Ice per Game (TOI/G): 59:08
Juuse Saros's regular season stats:
- Games Played (GP): 64
- Games Started (GS): 64
- Wins: 35
- Losses (L): 24
- Overtime Losses (OTL): 5
- Goals Against (GA): 173
- Goals Against Average (GA/G): 2.86
- Shots Against (SA): 1845
- Saves (SV): 1672
- Save Percentage (SV%): .906
- Shutouts (SO): 3
- Time on Ice per Game (TOI/G): 56:38