The Nashville Predators had every opportunity to close out Game 4 on Sunday at Bridgestone Arena, but didn’t.
The Vancouver Canucks took advantage, scoring twice in the final three minutes of regulation with the net empty to force overtime, then winning Game 4 4-3 on an Elias Lindholm goal 61 seconds into the extra period to leave Nashville stunned.
The Preds led 3-1 after a Filip Forsberg goal early in the third period and held the lead until Brock Boeser scored twice, once with 2:49 left and again with six seconds left in regulation, to force OT.
Lindholm then finished an opportunity at 1:01 of overtime to give Vancouver the victory and a 3-1 series lead.
Game 5 is Tuesday in Vancouver, with a 9 p.m. Central scheduled puck drop. Game 5 will be an elimination game for the Predators.
PLAYOFF TIME:Former Titans star Taylor Lewan looks for catfish before Predators-Canucks NHL playoffs game
Nashville Predators live score updates vs. Vancouver Canucks in Game 4 NHL playoffs
Overtime
Canucks win on Elias Lindholm goal
Playoff overtime!
The puck has dropped in overtime period No. 1 at Bridgestone Arena.
3rd period
Canucks score again with 6 seconds left to tie game at 3-3, force OT in Game 4
Brock Boeser has a hat trick, and Vancouver has tied the game at 3-3 with seconds remaining.
Tough play by Gus Nyquist, falling along the boards and creating a virtual 6-on-4 for that final sequence.
OT upcoming.
On both goals, Vancouver was able to move the puck across the crease area. Nashville didn’t do a very good job at all in defending the immediate space in front of Juuse Saros.
Predators 3, Canucks 2 at 17:11 of the third period | Brock Boeser scores 6-on-5 to cut Nashville’s lead to 1
The Canucks score with the net empty to cut the Preds’ lead to 3-2. Brock Boeser has his second goal.
Predators 3, Canucks 1 at 12 seconds of the third period | Filip Forsberg scores off his skate
The third period begins on a 4-on-4, and Roman Josi races past a falling Canucks player and gets a shot on goal. The rebound spills out to Filip Forsberg, and the puck hits off of Forsberg’s right skate and into the net.
That was quite the start to the final period. No challenge. Nashville leads 3-1.
Forsberg definitely nudged his skate forward a bit, but it’s ruled a good goal.
2nd period
Predators lead 2-1 after 40 minutes
Nashville is playing a punishing game, and Juuse Saros has made a couple good saves. Arturs Silovs has been solid on the other end.
Can’t underestimate the importance of the next period for Nashville.
Predators 2, Canucks 1 at 5:21 of the second period | Gus Nyquist buries a chance on a 2-on-1
Nashville gets a 2-on-1, with Filip Forsberg to Gus Nyquist’s left and driving to the net. Vancouver is more concerned about Forsberg than Nyquist, and the veteran winger makes the Canucks pay with a nice wrister for the goal.
Predators lead. Bridgestone Arena is engaged.
The game was back-and-forth to start the second period, with the Predators doing a good job to deny Pius Suter a breakaway chance just before that sequence.
Roman Josi returns early in second period
Roman Josi is back on the ice after getting a cut on his right ear fixed during the first period. Will he play 15 of the 20 minutes in this period? (We ask kiddingly, but the Predators would do well to lean on a fresher Josi later in this game.)
1st period
Predators 1, Canucks 1 after one
Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers went off with a cut on his face after taking a deflected puck to the face with about 90 seconds left in the period. It’s been a physical first period. 1-1 after 20 minutes.
Quinn Hughes did return to the ice for a shift late in the period but played 5:49 of the period, the lowest among Vancouver defensemen. Roman Josi did not return; he only played 4:53 in the period, about half of his usual output.
Quinn Hughes slow to get off the ice after hit
Quinn Hughes gets sandwiched by a couple Predators skaters and slowly returns to the Canucks bench. Will be something to monitor. He’s such a big part of the Canucks’ attack.
Roman Josi sent to locker room to patch up cut on ear
Canucks 1, Predators 1 at 5:34 of the first period | Mark Jankowski 4-on-4 goal
Jeremy Lauzon’s shot from the blue line gets through Arturs Silovs and ends up in the net. Mark Jankowski will get credit for the tip-in goal.
That was a 4-on-4 goal following penalties by Filip Forsberg and Elias Lindholm. Huge goal for the Predators early.
Canucks 1, Predators 0 at 2:55 of the first period | Brock Boeser buries open opportunity to open scoring
Brock Boeser gets a pass from J.T. Miller and buries the shot while sitting to Saros’ left on the Canucks’ first extensive stint of the game. Saros had no shot after the cross-ice pass. Predators cannot allow those looks;
Lloyd Cushenberry snaps a catfish to Will Levis before Game 4
New Titans center Lloyd Cushenberry and quarterback Will Levis are on hand to pump up the crowd. Cushenberry snapped a catfish to Levis.
Little Big Town sings the national anthem
Little Big Town sings the national anthem today. The crowd seems a little more invested in the proceedings today. Game 4 puck drop is in moments.
Predators Game 4 lineup
Report: Canucks will start No. 3 goaltender Arturs Silovs due to Casey DeSmith injury
Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet would not commit to Casey DeSmith as the Game 4 starter when speaking to the media on Sunday pregame.
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reported moments later that Arturs Silovs will start in net in Game 4 for the Canucks due to an injury DeSmith suffered late in Game 3. Silovs, 23, has nine NHL games of experience including a 3-0-1 record in four starts during the regular season. He has a 2.62 GAA and a .898 save percentage in those nine games.
What a huge development in the series. Thatcher Demko remains out.
What channel is Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 4 today?
- TV channel: Bally Sports South locally, TBS and truTV nationally
- Stream: Bally Sports app, FUBO (free trial)
Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 4 start time
- Date: Sunday, April 28
- Time: 4 p.m. CT
The Predators face the Vancouver Canucks, with puck drop scheduled for 4 p.m. CT Sunday at Bridgestone Arena
Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 4 betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, April 28
- Puck line: Predators -1.5 at +200, Canucks +1.5 at -250
- Total: 5.5 goals
- Money line: Predators -120, Canucks +100
Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks NHL playoffs first-round schedule
All times Central
Game 1: Canucks 4, Predators 2
Game 2: Predators 4, Canucks 1
Game 3: Canucks 2, Predators 1
Game 4: Vancouver at Nashville; 4 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 28 on TBS, truTV and Bally Sports South
Game 5: Nashville at Vancouver; 9 p.m. CT on Tuesday, April 30 on TBS and Bally Sports South
Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Nashville; TBD on Friday, May 3
Game 7 (if necessary): Nashville at Vancouver; TBD on Sunday, May 5
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
