Game 4 Preview: Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks 4/28/2024

The Nashville Predators will play game four of their series against the Canucks coming off a 2-1 loss on Friday night giving the Canucks a 2-1 series lead.

Nashville Predators (1-2-0) vs. Vancouver Canucks (2-1-0)

When: Sunday, April 28
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET
Where: Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN)
TV: TBS

Scoring Leaders

(2023-24 Regular Season Stats)

Nashville Predators

Points: Filip Forsberg – 94
Goals: Filip Forsberg – 48
Assists: Roman Josi – 62

Vancouver Canucks

Points: J.T. Miller – 103
Goals: Brock Boeser – 40
Assists: Quinn Hughes – 75

Expected Line Combinations

Nashville Predators

Filip Forsberg – Ryan O’Reilly – Gustav Nyquist
Mark Jankowski – Tommy Novak – Luke Evangelista
Anthony Beauvillier – Colton Sissons – Jason Zucker
Kiefer Sherwood – Michael McCarron – Cole Smith
Ryan McDonagh – Roman Josi
Jeremy Lauzon – Alexandre Carrier
Spencer Stastney – Luke Schenn

Vancouver Canucks

Pius Suter – J.T. Miller – Brock Boeser
Nils Hoglander – Elias Pettersson – Ilya Mikheyev
Dakota Joshua – Elias Lindholm – Conor Garland
Phil Di Giuseppe – Teddy Blueger – Sam Lafferty
Quinn Hughes – Filip Hronek
Carson Soucy – Noah Juulsen
Ian Cole – Nikita Zadorov

For More NHL Stats, Visit stats.insidetherink.com!

By The Numbers:

League Ranking

Nashville Predators

PP%: 12.5 (13)
PK%: 100.0 (1)
GF P/G: 3.00 (9)
GA P/G: 2.50 (5)
Faceoff %: 43.0 (15)

Vancouver Canucks

PP%: 0.0 (14)
PK%: 87.5 (4)
GF P/G: 2.50 (12)
GA P/G: 3.00 (6)
Faceoff %: 57.0 (2)

Predators Player to Watch: Gustav Nyquist 

Nyquist this playoff so far has two points with both coming on assists. In the regular season in 81 games, he had 75 points on 23 goals and 52 assists. On the power play he had 24 points on five goals and 19 assists. Nyquist finished third on the team in points, fourth in goals, and second in assists.

Nyquist’s Line Assignments

Nyquist will play wing on the top line with Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg. He will also play on the top power play with O’Reilly, Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Luke Evangelista.

Nyquist’s career vs. Canucks

Nyquist in his career against Edmonton has played in 20 games recording ten points on five goals and five assists. In the regular season he didn’t record a point in any of the three games.

Between The Pipes

Nashville: Jusse Saros (1-1-0, 2.03 GAA)

Saros struggled in game three stopping only ten of the 12 Vancouver shots he faced, he will need to perform better in game four or else things could behind to unwind for the Predators. He finished the regular season going 35-24-5 with a 2.86 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

Vancouver: Casey DeSmith (1-1-0, 2.02 GAA)

DeSmith saved the Canucks in game three stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced. He finished the regular season going 12-9-6 with a 2.89 GAA and a .896 save percentage.

Wrap Up

The Predators need to come out on top tonight in a must win game and make this a best of three series heading back to Vancouver. They really need Jusse Saros to get back to his best hockey if they want to do so and find a way to beat DeSmith.

ITR 32: The Final Countdown – Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they discuss everything in the world of hockey, including the Washington Capitals making two significant contract signings and the NHL Salary Cap to keep rising. John Tortorella is out of Philly, Eastern & Western Conference Roundups & More.

1. ITR 32: The Final Countdown 45:55
2. ITR 31: Let Them Fight 01:03:52
3. ITR 30: Down The Stretch 59:42
4. ITR 29: Trade Deadline Review 01:02:40
5. ITR 28: Deadline Week 44:07