NHL Series: Boeser and Lindholm save the Canucks for a 3-1 lead

index

Brock Boeser completed a hat-trick 8 seconds into regulation time to tie the game and Elias Lindholm scored in overtime to give the Canucks an almost unexpected victory, 4-3, over the Nashville Predators.

Vancouver leads the series 3-1 after trailing by two goals in the third period on Sunday, an enviable scenario when looking back for the rest of the matchup.

“Resilience is our word,” Canucks coach Rick Touchette said. This has been the case all year. Some situations we find ourselves in, we somehow get out of them. It may not be pretty, and it wasn't pretty tonight, but we found a way. »

The Canucks wouldn't give up with 2:47 left in the game thanks to Boeser's second goal of the game. But the latter did not lack for miracles, as he equalized the score 8 seconds before the end by jumping on the comeback. Just before that, Colton Sissons missed an empty netter that would have changed everything for Nashville by hitting a shot off the post just feet from the goal.

Lindholm put the nail in the coffin, as Arturs Silovs became the third different Canucks goaltender to record the win in three games in the series. Called up as reinforcements in the absence of Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith, the 23-year-old goaltender made 27 saves in his first career start in the playoffs.

“Connor (Garland) gave me a good pass in the slot and I had to put it in,” Lindholm said. “The goal in extra time is an unbelievable feeling. We didn't play our best, but when we needed big saves, Selovs was there.

“We've done our work on the road even if the road isn't always pretty, but we can't wait to finish it at home.”

Boeser opened the scoring on the Canucks' first shot 2:55 later. A perfectly executed play on the encounter allowed him to get a completely open net to the right of goalkeeper Jose Saros who was unable to move there in time.

However, the Preds responded quickly when Mark Jankowski blocked a shot from Jeremy Lauzon to catch the Sealoves off guard. Lauzon, who celebrates his 27th birthday, collected the first point of his career in the qualifiers. Alexandre Carrier was also a partner.

Gustav Nyquist gave Nashville the lead at 5:21 of the second period by scoring for the first time in 32 playoff games, a drought that dates back to 2019, when he wore the colors of the San Jose Sharks.

The Sealoves maintained a one-goal lead at the end of the period by stopping a 2-on-1 run while his team held a numerical advantage.

Filip Forsberg dealt the opponent a huge blow 12 seconds into the game in the third period by redirecting Roman Josi's pass with his right skate to make it 3-1. Yes, a strong blow, but not fatal for the Canucks, who managed to reduce the deficit in a frantic end to the match.

These three wins combined with three different goaltenders constitute a rare occurrence, but they are not the first in Canucks history. In 2004, the latter was able to count on the contribution of Dan Cloutier in the first game, Johan Hedberg in the third and Alex Auld in the sixth game in the quarterfinals, but the team eventually lost its flag in seven games to the Calgary Flames. .

The Canucks are one win away from their first series win since 2020.