The Nashville Predators lost the first game of their series with the Vancouver Canucks on the road, but the series might already be turning in their favour. The Canucks' starting goalie, Thatcher Demko, is injured and ruled out for Game 2 and potentially the rest of the first round. Considering Demko has been elite this season, he is definitely an impact player in this first round series with Nashville. Having him out at least one game and likely longer will now give the Predators a major advantage in net early in the series. Among goalies who played at least 30 games this season, Demko finished with the fourth-best GAA (2.45), second-best SV% (.918), and fifth-most shutouts (5). That's the type of goalie that can win a series and through five playoff games in his career, he has a ridiculous 0.97 GAA and .974 SV%. Starting in place of Demko in the second game of the series against the Predators is backup Casey DeSmith who went 12-9-6 this season with a 2.89 GAA, .895 SV%, and one shutout. He had a decent season, but did get blown out a few times. DeSmith's only playoff game in his career came in 2022 in a triple overtime game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers where Louis Domingue took over for him. DeSmith still stopped 48 of 51 shots. Predators forward Gustav Nyquist speaks to the media the day after Nashville's Game 1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Regardless of one game, I would look more towards what his numbers say from the regular season. Even with Saros not playing at an elite level in the playoffs since becoming a starter, the Predators now have the clear advantage in net for at least one game, potentially the rest of the series. Rick Dhaliwal noted that this injury for Demko is something new, not anything from the past. The Predators have been gifted a golden opportunity to come into Game 2 and tie the series on the road. Nashville was just as good on the road this season as they were at home, but the Canucks were noticeably better in their own building. In a playoff atmosphere in Nashville, it could make it even more difficult for the Canucks to take two or even one game from the Predators at home. The Predators are going to have to score more than two goals-per-game the rest of the series to have a chance at defeating the Canucks and the numbers suggest that the team has a better chance to do so now than with Demko in net. Nothing is guaranteed, but the Predators will have to take advantage of everything that is given to them, starting with facing the backup of the Canucks after losing to the starter in Game 1. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Podcast: Predators' Game 1 vs. Canucks Was Disappointing but Promising [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-predators-game-1-vs-canucks-was-disappointing-but-promising] Podcast: Predators vs. Canucks Game 1 Reaction [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-predators-vs-canucks-game-1-reaction] 3 Ex-Predators Defensive Draft Picks Primed for Key Playoff Roles [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/3-ex-predators-defensive-draft-picks-primed-for-key-playoff-roles] Nashville Predators Proven Success: Haven't Had Losing Season in Over a Decade, Claim Top-5 Ranking [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-proven-success-havent-had-losing-season-in-over-a-decade-claim-top-5-ranking]
