GAME DAY: Preds at Canucks, Game 2

After dropping Game 1 to the Vancouver Canucks by a 4-2 decision on Sunday, the Nashville Predators will look to ice a sharpened effort and even the series against their Pacific Division opponent on Tuesday.

Though Nashville liked much of their play through the first 40 minutes and entered the final frame leading the Canucks, 2-1, a quick two-goal rally from the home team in a 12-second span ultimately cost the visitors the game.

To knot the series at one apiece before it shifts back to Nashville, the Predators know they’ll need to clean up the detailed areas of their game and find another level against a tough first-round opponent.

“It's all about the result here at this point and all about our response,” Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “You always look at the things you regret after a game and I think we kind of regret our desperation level there. All things considered, after 40 minutes whether we liked the way we were playing or not, we still had a chance to win that game and we were in a good spot. [Vancouver] kind of rose up there and had the momentum going and capitalized on us a couple of times quick, and that's where we need to respond and understand where we're at in the game. And it doesn't have to be pretty, but the desperation and the execution and the will to get it done has to come through.”

“I think we have another level we can go to,” Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. “Maybe we were a little bit rusty, maybe we weren't quite as connected as we normally are. We didn't have this puck as much. But again, in saying all that, they pressured us pretty hard and we’ve got to do a little better job, have a little bit more urgency going back for the puck and a little more urgency getting on the puck.”

Puck drop at Rogers Arena is set for 9 p.m. CT, with the game scheduled to broadcast on Bally Sports South, ESPN2, 102.5 The Game and El Jefe Radio.

Here’s everything you need to know:

MORNING SKATE SKINNY

THE GOOD GUYS

Forwards Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly (PPG) each scored in their Predators postseason debuts. Zucker’s first-period marker was the eighth postseason goal of his career. O’Reilly’s second-period goal was the 26th of his playoff career.

Roman Josi's assist on Zucker’s first-period goal was the 32nd of his postseason career, enough to hand Nashville’s captain sole possession of the franchise's all-time postseason assists record.

Gustav Nyquist and Filip Forsberg each factored on O’Reilly’s power-play goal. Nyquist’s assist earned the forward his first career postseason point with the Predators and the 27th of his career (5g-22a). Forsberg’s assist gave the forward 54 points (29g-25a) in 76 postseason appearances.

Mark Jankowski recorded his first career postseason point with an assist on Zucker’s first-period goal. In their Stanley Cup Playoffs debuts, Luke Evangelista led the Predators in shots on goal (5) and Cole Smith led in hits (6).

Juuse Saros made 17 saves in the 11th postseason start of his career.

THE OTHER GUYS

In his second career postseason outing, Dakota Joshua scored twice for the Canucks, including the game-winner, and picked up an assist on Elias Lindholm’s second-period goal to collect a game-high three points. Joshua additionally led the Canucks with six hits.

Pius Suter scored in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut to knot the score, 2-2, at 8:59 of the third period. At 12 seconds apart, Suter and Joshua’s third-period markers were the fastest two goals scored in Canucks postseason history.

Quinn Hughes led the Canucks with two assists and recorded the fifth multi-point performance of his postseason career. Nikita Zadorov, Teddy Blueger, J.T. Miller, Conor Garland and Brock Boeser each recorded an assist for the Canucks as well.

Thatcher Demko made 20 saves in the fourth postseason start of his career.

GAME 1 NOTES

• The Predators moved to 9-13 all-time in Game 1 (6-9 on the road)
• Per NHL PR, O’Reilly has now scored for four different teams in the postseason (NSH, COL, STL & TOR). Only two other active players have scored in the playoffs for more teams: Erik Haula (6; BOS, NJD, FLA, NSH, MIN, VGK) and Pat Maroon (5; STL, NJD, EDM, TBL & ANA).
• Luke Evangelista, Tommy Novak, Cole Smith and Spencer Stastney each made their Stanley Cup Playoffs debuts on Sunday.
• Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Tyson Barrie, Dante Fabbro, Cody Glass and Gustavs Grigals were scratched and did not skate in Sunday’s game.

WATCH & LISTEN

Coverage for Game 2 begins at 8:30 p.m. CT with the Predators LIVE! pregame show on Bally Sports South, hosted by Lyndsay Rowley. Play-by-play announcer Willy Daunic and analyst Chris Mason will have the call on the Bally Sports South side, while play-by-play announcer Mike Monaco and analyst A. J. Mleczko will have the call on the ESPN2 side.

Pete Weber and Hal Gill will call the game on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network, with pregame, postgame and intermission coverage by Max Herz beginning one hour before puck drop. The game will also be broadcast in Spanish on El Jefe which airs on 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM and 810 AM. (El partido también se transmite en español por El Jefe en 96.7 FM, 105.3 FM y 810 AM.)