VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Steven Stamkos found the back of the net late in the second period, while Juuse Saros turned in an impressive performance with 27 saves, achieving his fourth shutout of the season as the Nashville Predators secured a 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.
Gustav Nyquist and Colton Sissons contributed significantly with a goal and an assist each late in the third period, aiding the Predators in ending a three-game losing streak.
On the other side, Kevin Lankinen managed to save 16 shots for the Canucks, who have struggled recently, losing three of their last four games and holding a record of 2-3-3 over their last eight outings.
Stamkos scored his 12th goal of the season and the 567th of his NHL career by firing a shot past Lankinen with just over three minutes remaining in the second period. This goal allowed him to surpass Patrick Marleau, moving him into 24th place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.
In the closing minutes, Nyquist and Sissons each added an empty-net goal, solidifying the Predators’ win.
Noteworthy observations indicate that Ozzy Wiesblatt made his NHL debut and Spencer Stastney returned for the first time this season after personal issues had kept him out. Both forwards were recalled from the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL just a day before the game.
The Canucks faced significant challenges, missing several key players. Center Elias Pettersson was placed on injured reserve retroactive to December 23 due to an undisclosed injury, while defenseman Filip Hronek (lower-body injury) also remained on the IR. Quinn Hughes (undisclosed injury) and goalie Thatcher Demko (back spasms) were additionally absent from the lineup.
A pivotal moment in the match occurred early in the first period when Saros made a crucial blocker save against Canucks center J.T. Miller’s breakaway attempt, establishing a defensive tone for the game.
In terms of special teams, Vancouver had two power play opportunities in the third period but could not manage a shot in either instance, finishing the night 0 for 3 with the man advantage.
Looking forward, the Predators are set to visit Calgary on Saturday, while the Canucks will take on Montreal on Monday, commencing a challenging five-game road trip.