April 20th, 2024
Alex Rickman
On Sunday, April 21st, the Vancouver Canucks will begin their 2024 playoff campaign at home against the Nashville Predators. Despite the Canucks winning the Pacific Division this year, this is a series that some are predicting to end in an upset for Nashville. Should Vancouver fans be worried about what’s to come, or is this a series the Canucks should take with ease? Let’s take a look at what could decide this first-round matchup, and what I predict the first round will look like for the Canucks.
Forwards
Going line by line through the two teams' forward cores, the Canucks certainly appear to have the advantage. That’s not at all to say that the Predators are weak up front, with players like Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, and Gustav Nyquist set to give the Canucks defence a good challenge. However, what Nashville lack is the range of weapons that the Canucks have at their disposal, especially if Elias Pettersson and Elias Lindholm can step up their game in the postseason. Simply put, it’s hard to see a world where the Predators will be able to put as much pressure on the Canucks defence as the Canucks will to the Preds.
The Canucks assorted sparkplugs and scoring depth will also provide them with an advantage in this series, as players like Dakota Joshua, Conor Garland, and Nils Höglander could prove to be the keys to victory in a seven-game series. If one of the Canucks big names is unable to produce, as has unfortunately been the case with Elias Pettersson of late, the Canucks have options who can pick up some of the slack by committee, most of whom also provide an absurd amount of energy in their time on the ice.
Where the Predators may prove to have an advantage over Vancouver is in playoff experience, as many of the Canucks forwards are yet to experience postseason hockey in front of a crowd. Nashville, meanwhile, are full of experienced veterans, including the previously mentioned O’Reilly and Forsberg as well as former Canuck Anthony Beauvillier, who have thrived playing under the bright lights. I have full faith that the Canucks will be able to step up to the plate and put in strong performances in the playoffs, but if they don’t, Nashville’s experience could prove to be a problem.
Defence
Last season I would be telling an entirely different story here, as the 2022-23 Canucks defence finished bottom five in a variety of statistical categories. However, the Canucks defence surprised everyone this year and has proven itself to be one of the best units in the NHL. So, once again, the Canucks have the advantage when it comes to blueliners, although Nashville’s unit is still nothing to scoff at. The playoff experience brought by veteran pieces like Roman Josi, Ryan McDonagh, and our old friend Luke Schenn won’t make things easy for the Canucks, but I still fully expect the Canucks backend to outperform Nashville’s.
In terms of star power at the back, this series should be a fun watch, with team captains Quinn Hughes and Roman Josi both being among the league’s best. Both teams also play a heavy defensive game, which once again should make for entertaining hockey, but in this regard, I feel that the advantage is once again with Vancouver. Between Tyler Myers’ ability to step up his physicality in the postseasons and the already strong physical games of Ian Cole, Nikita Zadorov, and Carson Soucy, the Canucks defence is capable of ruining anyone who lets their guard down’s day, and this may prove vital in their efforts to snuff out Nashville’s forwards.
Goaltending
Thatcher Demko has been having a better season than Predators goaltender Jusse Saros, but make no mistake, these are two goaltenders who could cause some problems for the opposition if they heat up at the right time. Saros is the more experienced of the two when it comes to playoff hockey, but Demko has proven himself to be a big game player throughout his time in the NHL, making it hard to doubt that he has what it takes to keep up his strong play into the postseason.
It’s hard to give an advantage one way or the other in this matchup, so I will simply say this; don’t expect the goals to come easily for either team with these two manning the creases. Fans who enjoy watching elite goaltenders play should be looking forward to this series, which should treat us to better play in net than almost any other playoff series will provide.
Playstyles
If there is one area in which the Canucks can take advantage of the Predators, this is it. Under Head Coach Andrew Brunette, Nashville’s offence has mostly come from creating and capitalizing on chances off the rush. This playstyle has come back to bite Brunette before, as his Panthers were swiftly disposed of by a Tampa Bay Lightning team that limited rush chances effectively in 2022. If the Canucks can do the same against Nashville, it’s hard to see a world in which the Predators can generate the offence they need to pose a real threat to Vancouver. However, if the Canucks are not able to prevent these chances, Nashville could find themselves with a real chance to win some games.
Lately, the Canucks have had some trouble in preventing rush opportunities. However, in the final week of the regular season, the Canucks played a much cleaner game than they had been playing for the majority of March, which is an encouraging sign that they will be able to snuff out opportunities for the Predators. Demko’s timely return from his knee injury will also be huge in creating problems for the Predators, as his ability to make huge saves can help bail out the defence should a mistake be made. However, the Canucks absolutely cannot rely on Demko’s heroics if they want to be a legitimate contender for the cup.
Prediction
While Nashville is by no means a pushover, I still predict that the Vancouver Canucks will take the series in 6 games. Between the Canucks superior roster and the stylistic matchup favouring Vancouver, far too much would have to go right for the Predators in this series for me to go against the Canucks. Is it possible that the Canucks could find a way to blow it and give the series to the Predators? Absolutely, the playoffs are always unpredictable, and the better team doesn’t always win. However, my confidence in this Canucks team is high right now, and I cannot foresee a first-round exit after such a strong regular season.
Time will tell what comes next for the Vancouver Canucks, but for now, fans should be excited by what’s to come. Expect Rogers Arena to be rocking in a way we haven’t seen in years come Sunday night, as Canucks fans are treated to their first in-person playoff hockey in almost 10 years.