The Nashville Predators lost 4-3 to the Vancouver Canucks on a goal by Elias Lindholm in overtime after the Canucks scored twice in the final three minutes to tie the game.
The Predators and Canucks will play Game 5 at Rogers Arena on Tuesday. Sunday’s loss means the Predators will be facing elimination in that game.
Here are three takeaways from the Nashville Predators’ loss in Game 4.
Nashville Predators blow two-goal lead with less than three minutes left
The Predators were in full control of the game, holding a 3-1 lead late in the third period.
Then, when Vancouver pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, the Predators collapsed.
Brock Boeser scored two goals in the final 2:49 — including the game-tying goal with 8 seconds left — to force overtime. It didn’t take long for Lindholm to score, uncovered from the slot just 1:02 into the extra period.
Nashville Predators stymied by backup, backup goaltender Arturs Silovs
News broke before Game 4 that the Canucks’ usual backup goaltender Casey DeSmith — starting in place of the injured Thatcher Demko — would also be out with an injury. In his place, Arturs Silovs made his NHL playoff debut at Bridgestone Arena.
In the game, the Predators managed three goals on 30 shots, including two in regulation that were scored on rebounds in front.
Silovs played well, making a number of key saves in the first and second periods. The Predators were unable to generate many high-danger scoring chances, but credit to Silovs for outdueling Juuse Saros in the game.
Filip Forsberg’s goal in the third period deemed “not a kicking motion”
In the NHL, you can score goals off your skates, but you can’t “kick” the puck into the net.
Early in the third period, https://twitter.com/AlexDaugherty1/status/1784727022956105848 as it slid behind Silovs. Initially it looked like he might have kicked it in the net, but the goal counted, giving the Predators a 3-1 lead.
The NHL’s game headquarters in Toronto would be responsible for making the call on kicked goals, but they did not intervene in this case. Apparently the video crew there ruled it was not a kicking motion, keeping the goal on the board.
It was supposed to be the insurance goal for the Predators, yet it still wasn’t enough.
