“Getting pucks to the net” is a well-used phrase in hockey.
The Vancouver Canucks were getting a lot of pucks around and near the net in Game 2, but not enough of them were getting to the net — or in.
In a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday that evened up their first-round series 1-1, the Canucks recorded an impressive 84 shot attempts — 37 of them in the third period alone. The Predators, meanwhile, had just 36.
The plus-48 shot differential is the most the Canucks have had in a game since 2010.
However, of those 84 shot attempts, only 18 of them actually reached the net. The Canucks held a much smaller edge over their opponents in this category as the Predators recorded 16 shots on goal.
Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros was able to stop 17 out of the Canucks’ 18 shots on goal, recording a .944 save percentage. Saros benefited from his team’s 32 shots blocked shots, which undoubtedly played a role in the difference between the Canucks’ shot attempts versus their shots on goal.
On the other side of the rink, Vancouver goaltender Casey DeSmith did not fare quite as well. The backup, who got the start with Thatcher Demko out injured, allowed three goals before the team also gave up an empty-netter in the game’s final minutes.
Post-game, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes said the team should be replicating Tuesday’s offensive effort going forward.
“I think for the most part we need to keep going to the net and have that shot mentality,” he said. “Just keep building.”
The Canucks opened the series on Sunday with a 4-2 win over the Predators. The series now moves to Nashville for the next two games. Catch Game 3’s action on Friday starting at 4:30 p.m. PT/ 7:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
