The second round of the NHL playoffs will feature an all-Canadian matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers.
Vancouver advanced with a late 1-0 win over the Nashville Predators in Game 6 Friday, winning the best-of-seven opening-round series 4-2.
The game was scoreless and appeared to be heading into overtime until Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left in the third period. The goal, off a pass from Brock Boeser, was Suter’s second of the series.
Nashville had a final chance to force overtime with a power play with 33.9 seconds left after Elias Lindholm was called for cross-checking Gustav Nyquist. But the Predators couldn’t beat rookie goalie Arturs Silovs before time expired, and Nashville captain Roman Josi slammed his stick to the ice.
Silovs made 28 saves to become the 14th rookie goalie in NHL history to finish off a series with a shutout and just the fifth in 30 years.
The Predators have lost six straight playoff games on home ice, taking some of the luster off the franchise’s reputation as Smashville.
Vancouver outshot Nashville for the first time in this series after being held to a combined 92 shots through the first five games. That was the second-fewest in a playoff series through five games since 1960 trailing only Washington (90) in the 1998 Eastern Conference semifinals.
Silovs got into the mix when Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko was declared week-to-week with an injury after winning Game 1. Casey DeSmith started Games 2 and 3 before his own injury, then Silovs made his postseason debut, winning Game 4 for a 3-1 lead.
The Canucks and Oilers have not met in the playoffs since 1992 when Edmonton won the second-round series in six games.
Edmonton, which finished second behind the Canucks in the Pacific Division, ousted the L.A. Kings from the first round for the third year in a row on Wednesday.
Vancouver won all four regular-season contests between the two teams this year.
The NHL has not announced when the first game between the Oilers and Canucks will be played, but round two of the playoffs is set to begin Sunday.
Source Agencies
