By AakashSports_
The Nashville Predators squeezed out a 2–1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena, riding solid goaltending from Juuse Saros and a composed defensive effort. For Vancouver, it was another night where Thatcher Demko did almost everything right — except score the goals his team couldn’t.
First Period — Demko Keeps It Even
Nashville controlled the first period from the drop of the puck. The Predators rolled their lines effectively, sustained zone time, and dictated the pace while outshooting the Canucks 12–5. Demko was sharp early, stopping multiple high-quality chances and keeping Vancouver alive through heavy traffic and second-chance looks.
The Canucks struggled to exit their zone cleanly, and their forecheck never found a rhythm. Breakouts were disjointed, and the forwards generated little sustained pressure in the offensive zone. By the time the horn sounded, the Predators had all the momentum — the only reason it was still 0–0 was Demko.
Second Period — Short-Handed Setback, Quick Reply
The deadlock broke midway through the second when Nashville struck short-handed. Ryan O’Reilly intercepted a pass during a Canucks power play, carried the puck up ice, and snapped a shot past Demko’s blocker to make it 1–0.
To their credit, the Canucks answered quickly. Less than three minutes later, Max Sasson tied the game for his third of the season. It was one of the few moments Vancouver managed real pressure and traffic around Saros.
But that surge didn’t last. Nashville regained their structure, cycling effectively and forcing Demko into more key stops as they outshot Vancouver 12–10 in the period. By the second intermission, the score was tied, but the flow of play leaned heavily toward the home side.
Third Period — Smith Delivers the Winner
The game’s deciding goal came early in the third. Cole Smith crashed the crease and knocked home a rebound at 5:09, putting Nashville back in front 2–1. The Canucks tried to push back, but their offense never found gear.
Power-play chances came and went without execution. Zone entries were sloppy, and the few looks they created were handled cleanly by Saros. Vancouver managed only seven shots in the final frame compared to Nashville’s eleven, failing to generate any sustained threat in the closing minutes.
Demko continued to fight, making several difficult stops to keep it close. He finished with 33 saves on 35 shots — easily Vancouver’s best player on the night. But once again, the problem was the same: he was the only one who showed up. Demko can stop everything, but he can’t create offense, and the Canucks gave him nothing to work with.
Postgame Breakdown
The Predators played a structured, disciplined game from start to finish. Their forecheck forced turnovers, and their defensive coverage around the crease was airtight. O’Reilly and Smith provided the scoring, while Saros was steady when called upon, stopping 21 of 22 shots.
Vancouver’s effort, meanwhile, was disjointed and low-energy. The team’s power play went 0-for-5 and failed to build momentum. Their top forwards were quiet, and second efforts on loose pucks were scarce. Every promising shift seemed to fade before it became dangerous.
The Canucks finished with 22 shots — only a handful of them true scoring chances. Aside from Sasson’s lone goal, there wasn’t much to build on offensively. Demko’s performance was the only reason the score stayed respectable.
The Bottom Line
Nashville earned the two points by doing the little things right: structure, work ethic, and patience. Vancouver, meanwhile, continues to lean on Demko to keep them afloat. He was calm, technical, and composed in net — but goaltenders can’t do it alone.
The Canucks now face the same question that’s followed them through the early season: who’s going to help their goaltender out? Until that answer shows up, results like this one will keep repeating.
