Canucks can’t close the deal, lose 4-3 to Predators in Game 5 close

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Canucks can’t close the deal, lose 4-3 to Predators in Game 5
Ryan Kesler stars again, but it's not enough as Game 6 beckons on Monday in Nashville


VANCOUVER — Here we go again.


Joel Ward scored a pair of third-period goals to give the Nashville Predators a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in Game 5 of the Western Conference at Rogers Arena on Saturday.


More distressing than the loss on home ice, is the fact it's the second straight series that the Canucks have failed to close out an opponent when they had them on the ropes. If you remember, it took the Presidents' Trophy winners four tries before eventually dispatching the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in seven games to open the post-season. Vancouver falls to 1-4 in elimination games.


For the past two days the Canucks went on at length about learning from their past mistakes, about wanting to close out the Predators and earn some much needed rest. So much for that idea. Game 6 goes Monday in Music City (5 p.m., CBC, Team 1040).


The result is even more surprising considering Nashville had never won a game when facing the possibility of being knocked out of the playoffs. The Preds were 0-5 lifetime in elimination games and 0-1 when trailing a series 3-1.


“For us tonight we put our focus on playing a good game and we came out good, but we had a couple of mistakes that they made us pay for,” said Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault. “It was a hard-fought game, it's not easy to finish off a team and we're going to get another opportunity in Game 6.”


Ward's one-timer past Roberto Luongo at 1:14 of the third period set the come-from-behind win in motion. The graduate of the University of Prince Edward Island added the game-winner about five minutes later.


Ryan Kesler, with a pair, and Raffi Torres had Vancouver's goals. Kesler was easily Vancouver's best player, bringing the Canucks within one with his seeing-eye wrist shot at 16:16 of the third period. His first of the night was also a thing of beauty as he outmuscled Norris Trophy candidate Shea Weber before tipping Mason Raymond's sublime backhand pass past Pekka Rinne. Kesler now has five goals in three games and has registered a point in eight of the Canucks' last 10 goals scored.


“We had a few bad bounces, but we need to focus on Game 6,” said Kesler, sporting fresh stitches and a swollen chin after taking a shot to the face in the third period. “We're still in a good spot. We're still up 3-2 and going into their barn where we've won two games.”

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Vancouver jumped out to the start it wanted, hemming the Predators deep in their zone for long stretches, but it was Nashville that opened the scoring. David Legwand beat Luongo on a breakaway at 3:42 after Mikael Samuelsson turned the puck over with the Canucks on the power play.


Torres' first of the post-season tied the game at 1-1 about two minutes later, converting a nice individual effort by Jannik Hansen. The Dane stripped Predators defenceman Jonathan Blum of the puck deep in the Nashville zone before dishing to Torres, who was alone in front.


Legwand's second of the night came from the most unlikely of places. His centering attempt from behind the net banked off defenceman Alex Edler and past a surprised Luongo to tie the game at 2-2 just 51 seconds into the second period.


“The first goal on our power play was unacceptable, it can't happen, and then they get the second one from behind the net …” said Daniel Sedin. “We had them 2-2 in the third and that's where we had to make a push.”


Daniel was minus-4 on the night while brother Henrik was a minus-3 — although to be fair, they didn't get much help from their defencemen all night.


“Minus-4, it can't happen, we need to be better,” said Daniel. “Offensively, I thought we played pretty well. We had a lot more time in their end, but we need to score on the chances.”


Samuelsson had to be helped off the ice with about seven minutes left in the first period with what looked like a left leg injury and did not return. He will not travel with the team on Sunday.


Predator Nick Spaling left the game holding his shoulder after being on the wrong end of a hit by Sami Salo late in the second period, but returned for the third and is expected to play in Game 6.


Vancouver Canucks players and coaches (left to right) Daniel Sedin, Alain Vigneault, Chris Higgins, Raffi Torres, Ryan Kesler, Rick Bowness and Cody Hodgson watch the final seconds tick away in Game 5 of the Canucks-Nashville Predators second-round NHL playoff series Saturday at Rogers Arena. The Predators won 4-3, cutting the Canucks’ series lead to 3-2.



Vancouver Canucks winger Daniel Sedin collides with Nashville Predator Joel Ward during Game 5 of the Canucks-Predators second-round NHL playoff series Saturday at Rogers Arena.



Vancouver Canucks centre Ryan Kesler (right) collides with Nashville Predators defenceman Ryan Suter during Game 5 of the Canucks-Predators second-round NHL playoff series Saturday at Rogers Arena.



Vancouver Canucks winger Alex Burrows is stopped by Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne during the first period of Game 5 of the Canucks-Predators second-round NHL playoff series Saturday at Rogers Arena.



Vancouver Canucks star Ryan Kesler scores on Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne during the first period of Game 5 in their NHL Western Conference semifinal series on Saturday night at Rogers Arena.