Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly both scored, but the Nashville Predators ultimately dropped Game 1 to the Vancouver Canucks in a 4-2 decision on Sunday.
Entering the third period leading their Pacific Division opponent, 2-1, the Predators were stung by a quick two-goal rally from Vancouver within a 12-second span and exited Rogers Arena on Sunday feeling that certain parts of their game had been left on the table.
“We were in it, for sure,” Predators Captain Roman Josi said. “They scored two quick ones, kind of got momentum and that's how it goes in the playoffs. You pick up momentum and I think it's hard to get back, but I think we have another level. We gave ourselves a chance to win, but I think there's still another level.”
“It's something a bit uncharacteristic for us in the last 40 games or so,” Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. “It was a little bit of a theme early in the year where the first shift after a goal is so important, and we just didn't execute and there was a breakdown, and [there was] a breakdown on the goal before, too. So, it’s a little disappointing. We haven't done that in a long time, and [it was] the same with the second period too, giving up a goal early. We've really tried to minimize that, and we didn't tonight.”
The result saw Vancouver take a 1-0 series lead over Nashville as the Predators turn their attention to Game Two on Tuesday.
QUICK HITS
Keeping Composure
The Predators entered Sunday’s contest expecting an intense, emotionally charged environment for Game 1 and were ultimately proven correct in their predictions.
Still, in a game that featured 75 combined hits (41 VAN, 34 NSH), plenty of post-whistle skirmishes and a raucous home crowd fueling the Canucks, the Predators felt their composure was right where it needed to be.
“We did a great job with that,” O’Reilly said. “The game was there for us. We had a couple of lapses and I'm sure a lot of guys want some shifts back. I know I do. I know I have a lot better. It is what it is, but we’ll move on and be fine.”
“I thought we did a lot of really good things,” Brunette said. “It probably wasn't my favorite game we played. I thought we were a little sloppy with the puck, but I thought we handled the emotion, we handled the crowd, we handled the heavy forecheck, we handled the physicality. I thought we were starting to take over the game and we fell asleep on a shift in the offensive zone, lose assignments, don't block a shot and it's 2-2. And I thought we had a lot of momentum going there. So, that's hockey. We’ve got to learn from it, move on. Just Etch-a-Sketch memory, short term and move straight ahead.”
Nashville's Newcomers
Sunday’s game saw Nashville newcomers Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly each crack the scoresheet in their Predators postseason debuts.
Scoring on the power play, O’Reilly picked up his first goal of the postseason and the 26th of his playoff career.
