NHL Playoffs 2011: Canucks Play "Predator Hockey" Better Than Nashville

Ryan Kesler finally scored his first—and second—goals of the playoffs. The Selke nominated, 40-goal scorer picked a good time to explode offensively, as his second goal was the overtime winner.

And yes, two goals does qualify as a veritable offensive explosion in this second-round series.

Due to overtime, the Canucks and Predators have played almost 12 periods of hockey over the first three games. They have combined for a grand total of nine goals.

All three games have been single-goal victories, with two of them coming in overtime.

Vezina-nominated Roberto Luongo has only given up four goals in those three games, stopping 92 of 96 shots for an astounding 0.958 save percentage. 

Unfortunately, this performance has been marred by late goals forcing Games 2 and 3 into overtime. Those two goals were of the lucky variety, pucks centered out of the corner that deflected twice before trickling in off a skate. 

Pekka Rinne is also showing why he deserves the Vezina Trophy.

He has stopped 105 of 110 shots for a 0.955 save percentage, just a touch worse than Luongo.  Far more of Rinne's saves have been highlight reel quality, however, especially in Game 2, where he repeatedly robbed Canucks shooters of sure goals in the overtime.

The Canucks are leading 2-1 in the series because they have been playing Predator hockey better than the actual Predators.

The Predators typically try to lock down the game into a physical one-goal affair, relying on superior goaltending and a vicious counterattack to win. 

The Canucks have obliged them, going hit for hit with the Predators and controlling the play for the vast majority of all three games.

However, the Canucks need to force the Predators to play a more open, free-flowing game where skill—rather than grit—reigns. 

The Canucks can play the Predator's style, but the opposite is not true. The Predators simply don't have the quality of players to play an end-to-end, free skating, skill game.

As long as the Canucks try to beat the Predators at their own game—and they are doing it successfully to date—the games will be tight, one-goal affairs where an unlucky bounce could force overtime or even a loss, as happened in Game 2.

Now that the Canucks have regained home ice advantage, the Predators need to win Game 4 or risk being down 3-1 in the series. With this in mind, the Canucks should try and open up Game 4, and force the Predators to skate and trade chances.

Nashville can't afford to sit back and hope for yet another lucky bounce to force OT, so against their better judgement they might have to oblige the Canucks.

If they do, there is a very good chance the Canucks return to Vancouver up 3-1, with a chance to close out the series at home in Game 5.