It was a summons, not a plea for divine intervention. Andrew Brunette credited the “hockey gods” to the Nashville Predators.
And he fell apart in Sunday's epic Game 4 at Bridgestone Arena, amid a slump after giving the Vancouver Canucks a commanding 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven first-round series. That's what he said.
“Usually when we're doing what we've been doing,” Brunette said, praising his team's fight in most of that loss (and the one before that). Maybe the hockey gods will give you some respite here. ”
The Predators got some rest Tuesday night in Vancouver.
They survived by scoring twice in the third period, each time pretty improbable. With the 2-1 win, the Canucks will return to Nashville for Game 6 on Friday. -all If they can't shut out the Predators again, Game 7 is looming.
Vancouver had a chance in Game 5. After two scoreless periods, the Canucks took a 1-0 lead when Nikita Zadorov scored in the opening minutes of the third period. With the raucous home crowd backing the Canucks toward goal, you had to believe the curtain was on for the Predators.
The hockey gods just laughed and winked.
Nashville's first goal was created by Roman Josi. However, the ball ended up over the line as Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs rolled and unintentionally shoved it behind him.
Then, defenseman Alex Carrier took a beautiful low shot from near the blue line and hit it to beat the Shilovs in the bottom corner.
It's not Joshi. Not Philip Forsberg. Not Ryan O'Reilly, not Gustav Nyquist, not Tommy Novak, not Luke Evangelista.
Alex Carrier.
It was his first playoff goal. He only scored four goals this season, and had 10 in 217 NHL regular season games.
Hey, why? “Are you kidding me?” seems to be the default setting for this bizarre first round series, floating around like a knuckleball. I don't know where I'm going next. The road team has won each of its past four games.
For the Predators, Tuesday's win was on brand. This was another example of why they are so beloved this season.
You can never count them. In fact, it is precisely when they are enumerated that they become most dangerous.
This situation has been going on for months, and even though no one could blame them after such a heartbreak in Game 4, the Predators fly to Vancouver just to die crying. , it was impossible.
2 losses at home and 3 wins and 1 loss in the series? I wish we could do it again in Vancouver.
Down 1-0 in the third period and staring down elimination? Find two second-half goals from whoever gives the Canucks a taste of what it feels like to blow a lead in front of their home fans.
So I'm going back to Nashville. Both of us.
Contact Tennessee sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com or on the X Platform (formerly Twitter) @Gentry_Estes.
