Canucks neutralizing Predators’ dangerous power play

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators’ power play was purring entering the playoffs, scoring on 27.2 per cent of its opportunities over 31 games following the NHL All-Star break. That carried over into the Predators’ first chance of the post-season, when Ryan O’Reilly finished off a slick passing play in the second period of Game 1 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Since then, however, the Canucks have neutralized the Predators’ man advantage, killing 12 consecutive penalties. Vancouver went 5-for-5 in its 2-1 win Friday to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Canucks have gone 25-for-26 on the penalty kill over the past seven games dating to April 10 (96.2 per cent) — a far cry from the unit that was the worst in the league last season (71.6 per cent).

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“When it matters the most, we’re able to step up and get the job done,” said Canucks defenceman Ian Cole, who led the team with 5:27 of shorthanded ice time. “Really good power play. Ton of credit to those guys over there. They’re really good. They’ve got a lot of plays dialled in. The timing of their plays is really nice. We’re just trying to do the best we can to shut them down and (give) Casey (DeSmith) pucks that he can see.”

On Friday, the Predators had three power-play opportunities in the first period but only got two shots through to DeSmith on nine attempts. Late in the game, Nashville had a two-man advantage for 21 seconds with Brock Boeser and Nikita Zadorov in the penalty box. Cole blocked shots by Roman Josi and O’Reilly in rapid succession, the second of which caromed off the side of his helmet and out of play.

“(Cole) was (lying) on the ground, and I was praying it didn’t get him in the face,” DeSmith said.

“It can hit me in the face,” Cole said. “At this point, the face can’t get much worse than it already is.”

That sort of sacrifice, which Cole said is “non-negotiable at this point,” has made it difficult for the Predators to get pucks on net on the power play. Nashville has 13 shots during its 13 opportunities in the series.

“Those guys (who) are getting the call regularly are doing an unbelievable job for us,” Canucks forward J.T. Miller said. “It’s nice to see after the last couple years (considering) how much our penalty kill failed and let us down. … In years prior, they get that power play in the third (period), you know they’re scoring. I’m super happy for (our penalty killers), and we’re going to need them moving forward. They’ve been doing a great job for us.”

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