The Nashville Predators, on the brink of elimination, will face the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday in Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series. If the Predators lose Tuesday, their season is over. If they win, the series heads back to Nashville for Game 6. This do-or-die moment for the Predators comes after they lost back-to-back home contests, including a gut-wrenching Game 4 loss that saw Nashville blow a 3-1 lead late in the third period and lose to Vancouver in overtime. After out-chancing the Canucks in Games 3 and 4 at Bridgestone Arena, the Predators are confident they can find a way to win Game 5 if they remain committed to their identity. “I think we've played really good hockey in all four games and didn't get rewarded maybe as much as we would’ve liked,” head coach Andrew Brunette said. “But that doesn't change the mentality of the group. Regardless of where the series is at, even if we’re up 3-1 or we’re tied 2-2, tomorrow we have to go and play our best and see what happens.” Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette speaks to the media before the team's trip to Vancouver for Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Canucks. The Canucks and the Predators have only faced off in the postseason once before, with Vancouver winning the 2011 Western Conference semifinal series 4-2. During that series, Ryan Kesler led the Canucks with 11 points in six games, while Joel Ward led the Predators with eight points. Through the first four games, the 2024 playoff series has been remarkably similar to the one in 2011. In both series, the Predators lost the first game and won the second game – both on the road – before dropping back-to-back home contests to fall behind 3-1 in the series. "We’ve been on death’s doorstep a couple times," then-head coach Barry Trotz said after Nashville's loss in Game 4 in 2011 [https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/canucks-preds-gm4/sn-amp/]. "In the [first-round] Anaheim series, we were there, and we found a way to come back and win. In Vancouver, we were there, and you know we find ways. And as I said, we’ve dug ourselves a hole, but we’ve been in a few holes this year, and this group has been able to do it all year." The 2011 Predators went on to win Game 5 of that series in Vancouver behind two goals apiece from Ward and David Legwand, sending the series back to Nashville for Game 6. The 2024 Predators, who know what it's like to be on "death's doorstep" themselves, have a chance to do the same Tuesday night. Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh speaks to the media before the team's trip to Vancouver for Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Canucks. “We've had our backs against the wall,” Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh said before the team departed Nashville for Game 5. “From the middle of the season we were on the outside looking in, and we had to put together a good streak. And that gives us confidence. We know when we get to our game, we're tough to play against. Any team that we played against during the regular season saw that, felt that, said that to the media after games. So we know we have that confidence and that type of game that we want to play with where we can dictate, be in the other team's face and not give up much. It's just a matter of putting that effort in one more time here, getting the result and closing it out." Puck drop for Game 5 on Tuesday at Rogers Arena is set for 9 p.m. CT.
