Nashville Predators ride second-period goals, defense to 4-1 win over Canucks in Game 2

The Nashville Predators earned a split in Vancouver.

The Predators' second-period flurry, combined with a hardened defensive effort, produced a 4-1 win over the Canucks in Game 2 of the NHL playoffs first-round series on Tuesday. The series is now tied 1-1, with Friday's Game 3 in Nashville.

The Predators recorded 32 blocked shots, visibly frustrating the Canucks stars, who also totaled 31 missed attempts. They led in shots on goal 18-16, a minimal advantage given the lopsided number of total shot attempts.

The first period was tilted toward the Canucks in nearly every way — except the scoreboard. Anthony Beauvillier tipped in a Filip Forsberg shot for the opening goal just 74 seconds into the game.

Nashville added two more goals within 1:32 in the second period. Forsberg used some fancy stickhandling with plenty of space in front of Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith to give the Predators a 2-0 lead at 6:29 of the second. Colton Sissons cleaned up a big rebound at 8:04 of the period to extend the Nashville lead to 3-0.

Nikita Zadorov's shot from the point gave the Canucks a narrow opening late in the second period, but the final 25 minutes of game play was a bag full of blocked shots and missed opportunities by Vancouver.

Kiefer Sherwood had his first playoff goal on an empty net with 1:53 left in the game.

Game 2 is Friday in Nashville, with a 6:30 p.m. Central scheduled puck drop (TBS).

GAME 2 LINEUP: Nashville Predators' expected lineup for Game 2 vs Vancouver Canucks in NHL playoffs

Nashville Predators live score updates vs. Vancouver Canucks in Game 2 NHL playoffs

Third period

FINAL: Nashville 4, Vancouver 1

Timely scoring and refusing to allow clean shots are the stories of the day for the Predators, who secure the Game 2 win with a late Kiefer Sherwood empty-net goal.

Nashville up to 32 blocked shots

The Predators have completely cluttered in front of Juuse Saros, and few shots getting through. The Predators have been credited with 32 blocked shots. During a long Canucks offensive zone shift, Roman Josi blocked a shot and Ryan McDonough blocked multiple.

Still 3-1 with less than six minutes to play. Nashville is in a good position to even up this series.

Juuse Saros cleans up in front of goal

Dakota Joshua rushes on the near post to collect the puck and fire at an empty net after a scramble, but Juuse Saros shuts the door.

He's been better in Game 2. Vancouver leads shots on goal 17-12.

Nashville is holding onto a 3-1 lead with 9:10 left.

Second period

Predators 3, Canucks 1 after two

Nashville (barely) kills off another Vancouver power play, with an Elias Pettersson tip-in off the post in the final seconds of the power play.

Preds lead 3-1, but are playing with fire with the way this game is going.

Predators 3, Canucks 1 at 15:33 of the second period | Vancouver on the board

Nikita Zadorov's shot from the point somehow gets through and into the net, capping off an extensive offensive zone shift by the Canucks.

Nashville's defensemen were on the ice for more than two minutes as the Preds were stuck in their defensive zone.

The chances have been there for the Canucks. Nashville needs a strong finish to the second period.

Predators 3, Canucks 0 at 8:04 of the second period | Colton Sissons goal off of a big rebound

A tremendous save off of a deflection by Juuse Saros sends the puck the other way, and the Predators add on to the lead. Anthony Beauvillier's shot is saved by Casey DeSmith, but a big rebound pops out in front. Colton Sissons wins the race to the puck and only needs to get a stick on the puck to get it into the net. That was a bad rebound by DeSmith, but the Predators are suddenly humming.

Nashville 3, Vancouver 0. Predators have three goals on 11 shots.

Predators 2, Canucks 0 at 6:29 of the second period | The Canucks forgot about Filip Forsberg?

Ryan O'Reilly and Filip Forsberg go to work on the forecheck behind DeSmith, and the puck trickles to Gustav Nyquist who finds a suddenly unmarked Forsberg. The Predators top goalscorer had enough time and space to show off his hands before flicking the puck past DeSmith.

Forsberg has responded well in Game 2. No matter the earlier issues for the Predators -- Nashville 2, Vancouver 0.

Predators kill off remainder of power play, get a power play chance themselves

The Predators kill off the final 76 seconds of the Canucks power play, and Anthony Beauvillier draws a slashing penalty on a good chance off the rush moments later.

Vancouver has five shots on goal, while the Predators have blocked 12 shot attempts so far.

The Predators ensuing power play produces a Ryan O'Reilly chance from in front but nothing else.

First period

Predators 1, Canucks 0 after one

Vancouver will begin the second period with 1:16 of power-play time after a Ryan McDonough holding penalty. Elias Pettersson missed an open net on the power play with seconds left, something the Canucks have done a lot in the first four periods of this series.

Other than the first 90 seconds, the Predators have been on their heels. It has to get better for Nashville in the second.

Predators kill off consecutive Canucks power plays

The Predators had to kill off two Vancouver power plays nearly back-to-back and did so with a lot of shot blocking and a highlight-reel save by Juuse Saros on a Pius Suter shot from in front off of a ricochet.

Predators 1, Canucks 0 at 1:14 of the first period | Anthony Beauvillier tips in a Filip Forsberg shot

A Filip Forsberg hopeful shot from the blue line gets tipped by Anthony Beauvillier and floats past the outstretched Casey DeSmith. Not a good start for the Vancouver backup goaltender. Great start for the Preds.

Tyler Myers also out for Canucks

Tyler Myers did not warmup and is not in the lineup for Vancouver. Myers, the big defenseman, played 19:08 in Sunday's Game 1.

What channel is Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 2 today?

• TV channel: Bally Sports South locally, ESPN2 nationally

• Stream: Bally Sports app, FUBO (free trial)

Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 2 start time

• Date: Tuesday, April 23

• Time: 9 p.m. CT

The Predators face the Vancouver Canucks, with puck drop scheduled for 9 p.m. CT Tuesday at Rogers Arena.

Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 2 betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, April 22

• Puck line: Predators +1.5 at -190, Canucks -1.5 at +155

• Total: 5.5 goals

• Money line: Predators +135, Canucks -160

Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks NHL playoffs first-round schedule

All times Central

Game 1: Canucks 4, Predators 2

Game 2: Nashville at Vancouver; 9 p.m. CT, Tuesday, April 23 on ESPN2 and Bally Sports South

Game 3: Vancouver at Nashville; 6:30 p.m. CT, Friday, April 26 on TBS and Bally Sports South

Game 4: Vancouver at Nashville; 4 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 28 on TBS, truTV and Bally Sports South

Game 5 (if necessary): Nashville at Vancouver; TBD on Tuesday, April 30

Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Nashville; TBD on Friday, May 3

Game 7 (if necessary): Nashville at Vancouver; TBD on Sunday, May 5

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators break out for Game 2 NHL playoff series win over Canucks