Vancouver Canucks Round 1, Game 5 Preview: Second Round Is In Sight As Canucks Return To Rogers Arena

Adam Kierszenblat

Apr 30, 2024, 07:01

Adam Kierszenblat

Apr 30, 2024, 07:01

The Vancouver Canucks head into Game 5, looking to end their first-round series against the Nashville Predators.

After a miraculous comeback in Game 4, the Vancouver Canucks return home with a chance to advance to the second round. Despite being outshot the last two games, the Canucks went into Bridgestone Arena and walked away with two crucial wins in their series against the Nashville Predators. Vancouver enters with a 17-15 record in Game 5s, with their last win coming on September 1, 2020, against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Heading into Game 5, the Canucks need to find a way to get more shots on the net. While they have been able to get away with low shot totals all series, averaging 18 shots per game is a risky game that can easily backfire. Based on the way Juuse Saros has played throughout the series, getting low shots where he is forced to give up rebounds will be a key in Game 5.

Vancouver also needs to build off the crowd if they want to win. While they advanced past the first round in 2020, this crowd hasn't seen a series win at Rogers Arena since 2011. The arena is going to be loud all night which should provide the Canucks with an emotional boost.

Players to Watch

Nikita Zadorov

Nikita Zadorov has been one of Vancouver's best defenders in the series. Averaging over 20 minutes per game, he has a goal and an assist while delivering a team-high 18 hits. His physicality and ability to move the puck have been crucial to the Canucks success so far and will be essential for Vancouver if they want to walk away with a Game 5 victory.

Gustav Nyquist

After scoring his first playoff goal since 2019, Gustav Nyquist will be leaned on to help save the Predators season. The former fourth-round pick will also be looking to make an impact after getting juked by Quinn Hughes, which led to the Game 4 tying goal. Averaging over 20 minutes per game so far in the series, he has proven that he can be dangerous if given time and space.

Canucks Projected Lineup

Suter-Miller-Boeser

Mikheyev-Pettersson-Höglander

Joshua-Lindholm-Garland

Di Giuseppe-Blueger-Lafferty

Hughes- Hronek

Soucy- Myers

Zadorov- Cole

Šilovs

DeSmith

Predators Projected Lines

Forsberg- O'Reilly- Nyquist