
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Linus Karlsson achieved his first NHL goal, contributing to the Vancouver Canucks’ 3-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday evening.
Nils Hoglander and Pius Suter also found the back of the net, while Quinn Hughes notched two assists, aiding the Canucks in their third consecutive win. Thatcher Demko was solid in goal, stopping 31 shots throughout the match.
For the Predators, Tommy Novak netted their only goal, with Juuse Saros recording 19 saves as Nashville faced their second straight defeat.
In a pivotal moment early in the second period, Tyler Myers delivered a pass from the left circle to Karlsson, who was positioned just off the right goalpost. Karlsson tapped the puck in at 1:28, scoring his first-ever goal and putting the Canucks ahead 2-1.
Hoglander opened the scoring at 7:11 in the first period. He maneuvered the puck from the right wing into the high slot and unleashed a wrist shot that found the net past Saros.
Novak quickly equalized, scoring just 1:30 later. Suter later secured the win for Vancouver with an empty-net goal in the closing moments.
Key takeaways from the game include Vancouver’s improving performance from Demko, who had lost four of his last five outings prior to this match. He was particularly effective in the first period, blocking 12 of 13 shots. On the other hand, Nashville, despite a five-game winning streak earlier in the season, has now lost two consecutive games, complicating their chances of reentering the playoff race, especially against rivals in the standings.
A critical moment occurred with 13 minutes left in the third period when Vancouver was on a power play. Nashville’s Gustav Nyquist went on a short-handed breakaway against Demko, who successfully denied the shot and maintained his team’s 2-1 advantage.
Statistically, Quinn Hughes continues to shine, extending his point streak to seven games with two assists in this matchup. Over this seven-game stretch, he has accumulated five goals and six assists, recording at least two points in each of his last three games.
Looking ahead, the Canucks will travel to Dallas on Friday, while the Predators are set to take on Buffalo.