I guess the silver lining from this game was the fact that the Vancouver Canucks managed to score a goal for the first time in four games, having been shutout in the previous three.
However, the outcome was still the same as the other three, falling 3-2 to the Nashville Predators in a shootout 3-2 Thursday night.
Canucks were up 2-0 courtesy of Bo Horvat, and Daniel Sedin, but Nashville responded with two goals of their own in the third period via James Neal and Filip Forsberg.
“I don’t think we can be happy with our first and second period,” Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. “The second was better than the first. I don’t know what’s the reason, but we’ve been really strong in the third period as of late and that was a key for us again.”
Pekka Rinne made 23 saves including 3 in the shootout.
Forward Bo Horvat gave the Canucks a 1-0 lead at 6:52 of the first period. Forward Sven Baertschi took the original shot, and Horvat was able to get to the rebound and shoot it past Rinne for 12th.
Canucks forward Daniel Sedin gave the Canucks a 2-0 lead at 14:39 of the first period on a power play. Forward Henrik Sedin made the pass from behind the net, and Daniel Sedin one-timed it past Rinne for his 27th goal.
The Predators made it 2-1 when Neal scored at 11:56 of the third period. Neal took a pass forward Colin Wilson from behind the net and shot it past Miller for his 29th goal.
Filip Forsberg tied the game 2-2 at 13:08 of the period on a wraparound. Forsberg retrieved the rebound of a shot from defenseman Mattias Ekholm and got the puck past Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller for his 31st goal.
After a scoreless overtime session, Craig Smith’s goal in the 4th round of the shootout brought home Nashville a victory.
Ryan Miller made 30 saves in the loss.
The good news was that Canucks forward Jannik Hansen returned after missing 11 games with a rib injury. He joined Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin on the top line.
“It makes a difference,” Desjardins said. “Just having that, I think Henrik and Daniel were better tonight. They were excited with getting Hansen back to help that line.
Up next: The Canucks face off against the St. Louis blues Friday night on the road.
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