Playoffs Round Two - Vancouver v. Nashville - Discussion Thread

[MasonBogosianColl]

Who do you think will win the series and by how many games:
I am saying Vancouver in 6 maybe 7

[RGM81]

The Predators are in the second round for the first time in franchise history.

The Canucks have just come off an emotional roller coaster against the Blackhawks, taking Game 7 in OT after blowing a 3-0 series lead.

This should be excellent.

A little NHL.com preview:

Right here, right now: The teams divided the four-game season series, with each winning once at home and once on the road. The last meeting came on March 29, when Vancouver went into Nashville and left with a 3-1 victory to complete a perfect road trip. Vancouver is 15-8-1-1 all-time against the Predators at home and 14-10-1-0 in Nashville. The teams have never met in the playoffs.

Coulda Woulda: Nashville closed out Anaheim in the first round on Sunday for their first series victory in franchise history, then had to wait to see who it would play in the second round. Vancouver looked like it would breeze through the opening round against Chicago, winning the first three games – but lost the next three and had to go to overtime in Game 7 on Tuesday night to beat the Blackhawks 2-1 on a goal by Alexandre Burrows.

How important to win first game: The Predators will head for the Pacific Northwest with the hope of getting the jump on a Vancouver team still enjoying its Game 7 victory against Chicago – a win that helped atone for playoff losses in each of the last two years. Nashville had its own celebration on Sunday after ending its 0-5 playoff drought, but has had a few days to get the euphoria out of its system.

The Great Unknown: Both teams have elite goaltenders coming off series victories in which they didn’t always play well. Nashville’s Pekka Rinne had a 3.29 goals-against average against Anaheim, more than a goal a game higher than his regular-season GAA. Roberto Luongo was one of the heroes of Vancouver’s Game 7 win against Chicago, but he was yanked in Games 4 and 5, then was benched in Game 6 only to take the loss after replacing injured starter Cory Schneider in the third period.

Finish line: Both teams are coming into the series off emotional victories. Nashville is in the second round for the first time; Vancouver finally got past Chicago, the team that ended its season in each of the last two seasons and nearly did it again. The Canucks were the NHL’s best team in the regular season, and what often happens to superior teams that avoid getting tripped up in the first round is that their talent begins to dominate. If both teams play to their talent level, the Canucks have the edge because they have more talent.

[stop__dreaming]

Very much looking forward to this series.

Vancouver need to get some consistency going that they showed during the regular season to stand any chance against the Preds.

Nashville are a totally different team to Chicago and will need to be approached cautiously. For me, they are the underdogs in the Playoffs that quietly go about their business. Not flashy, they just get the job done.

I agree with NHL's preview, if Vancouver get their confidence back, they will prevail on more talent, maybe in 6. Although, the Preds have had extra time to rest when this one swings around.

[Mike Bray]

Erat is good to go for this series -- thats a plus for the Preds --
hopefully Rinne will settle down ---
and my hope is Geoffrion with a game winner -- which game , any game --

GO PREDZ !!!!!

[centrehice]

Canucks in 5.

[gatesnapper]

depends which Vancouver team shows up, I am going to go with Nashville.

[stodg]

I think the series depends on which Roberto Luongo shows up.

[Mike Bray]

Preds in 6 ..... i`m just saying .....

[Wickabee]

depends which Vancouver team shows up.

I agree with this. I am going Van in 6.

[robcynd]

Why is everyone going with the NUcks? they are a good team... a very good team.

Their the best in the league maybe?

record said they were the best, but they almost, and just almost blew a 3-0 lead

Thank Burrows for that. What a killer Slapper!

Rinne will settle down for sure, and like Mike said above, erat is back.

We did shut them out in BC 3-0 anyone remember that one?

So please stop calling for a 4-1 and 4-2 wins

this could very well be the Preds in 6

Then again they've never been this far, so here's hoping