Your Game 3 recap is here, y’all!
How It Went Down
CATFISH ARE FLYING!!!!! It’s time for playoff hockey in Nashville, y’all.
As predicted, Ryan O’Reilly and squad surely got the pucks on net early in the first period. With a broken Canucks stick, it looked like the Preds would knock one in early. Fisticuffs flew, however, after a bad boarding by Dakota Joshua, and Nashville was awarded an early power play. The Preds weren’t able to convert with the Canucks down a man. With about 10 minutes left in the first, Nashville went on another power play with absolutely no luck.
Immediately after Nashville’s power play expired, Michael McCarron hit Casey DeSmith…for reasons unknown [ed.: Looked to me like he fell into him.] …and Vancouver got their first power play opportunity. They immediately converted on a JT Miller wrist shot.
The first period ticked to a close with Vancouver on another power play, thanks to Ryan McDonagh’s temper. The Canucks were unsuccessful with McDonagh in the box. With just over two minutes left in the period, Nashville was awarded another power play; absolutely nothing of consequence happened.
Roman Josi was sent to the box for a weak tripping call with about four minutes gone in the second, giving Vancouver yet another power play. The Canucks power play remained deadly and the visiting team went up by two goals. Toward the end of the period, quite a few offsetting penalties allowed for plenty of special teams work, but not a lot of on-ice results.
The third period began without a lot of fanfare or fireworks. The Predators felt like they threatened for the beginning of the period, but no goals proved this. A mid-third Nashville power play resulted in just one shot on goal, but Nikita Zadorov cleared the puck over the glass and the boys in gold continued on the man advantage. O’Reilly missed another open net during 5-on-3 play, but after the ensuing faceoff, Nashville once again failed to notch a goal.
Luke Evangelista pulled Nashville within a goal with just over three minutes remaining. Despite the cheers of the Smashville faithful, the Preds could not find the equalizer.
Random Thoughts
- Hi, Wayne Gretzky on TNT.
- George Kittle sighting!!!
- Catfish sighting, x2. Just kidding. SIX CATFISH.
- Spencer Stastney goes down the tunnel 🙁
- Luke Schenn is holding two large men in anger.
- Spencer Stastney is back on the bench!
- That was so dumb, Michael McCarron.
- Power plays are more like power outages.
- I think the last time I recapped a game was during the 2020 Bubble Playoffs.
- That leaking puck behind DeSmith gave me 2017 flashbacks.
- Stop giving Vancouver power plays.
- Gus Nyquist wants a goal.
- Stastney goes back down the tunnel.
- Luke Evangelista is fiery.
- JUUSE SHOVED A GUY.
- Roman Josi has looked “off” this series.
- Another power play? Bites nails nervously.
- Meh.
- Luke Evangelista!!!!
- Smashville is pretty lit right now.
- Special teams truly bit Nashville in the butt in this game. This is certainly not the end of the series, but man, it’s awful to see their momentum absolutely halted by solid Vancouver defense. The Predators absolutely have to get their special teams together if there’s any chance of escaping Round 1.
- You can see so many flashes of brilliance in this game by the Preds, but they’re just not putting the pieces together.
- Ryan O’Reilly will be big in Game 4…book it.
Next Up
Game 4 is Sunday in Nashville. Puck drop is at 4:00 Central (OH YEAH!). Bally Sports has your broadcast and 102.5 The Game has the radio call.