The Nashville Predators Look To Even the Series against the Vancouver Canucks

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The Nashville Predators Look To Even the Series against the Vancouver Canucks

In the first series, the Vancouver Canucks looked vulnerable in between the pipes, but after game one, the Nashville Predators have realized they have a fight on their hands.

The Canucks blitzed Nashville early and often in Game 1 on Thursday, outshooting the Predators 16-5 in the opening period, 26-11 through 40 minutes, and 30-20 overall. But they will have to find a way to solve goalie Pekka Rinne moving forward, because Chris Higgins' goal with 7:46 left in the second period stood up only because Nashville captain Shea Weber missed an empty net on a power play with less than five minutes left. Still, with as many chances as the Canucks generated, they were also good in their own end in front of Roberto Luongo, who made 20 saves for his second shutout of the playoffs.

Less than 48 hours after eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champions -- and after being knocked out and beaten down two straight years by the Blackhawks and almost blowing a 3-0 series led this year, it was as much an exorcism as a playoff series -- Vancouver was back at it.

Even harder, they were up against the nondescript Predators, a team with little of the built-in animosity that came with Chicago, but built to beat any team that doesn't match their amazing work ethic. Given the emotional ups and downs of a first round that ended in overtime Tuesday, it was easy to wonder if the Canucks would be ready for Game 1 against Nashville Thursday.

There certainly weren't any signs of a letdown in Game 1, as the Canucks outshot Nashville 16-5 in the first period, and 30-20 overall in a 1-0 win Thursday night that was close only because of Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne. The key is keeping up the intensity in Game 2 Saturday.

If anything, the lessons of the first round against Chicago should make it easier for the Canucks to avoid any letdown against Nashville. Up 3-0 in the series, Vancouver let its foot off the gas and the Blackhawks back into the series, and it almost came back to bite them spectacularly.

The Canucks seemed more focused than ever and will win game two.

Hockey Picks: Vancouver Canucks

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