Predators Blow Late 3-1 Lead, Drop Game 4 to Canucks in OT

For 57 minutes on Sunday, the Nashville Predators iced a winning effort against the Vancouver Canucks .

The Predators were in full control of the game, outshooting their opponents 30-20 and holding a 3-1 lead late in the third period. But when the Canucks pulled their goalie for the extra attacker in the final minutes of regulation, Nashville fell apart.

Brock Boeser scored two goals in the final 2:49 — including the game-tying goal with eight seconds left — to force overtime. Elias Lindholm put the game away for Vancouver just 1:02 into the extra period, sealing the 4-3 win and the 3-1 series lead.

“It happens," Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said. "This one was tough, especially the way we played, I think, all game. I really liked our third period. Just kind of broke down and lost a little composure near the end.”

The Canucks won despite getting outshot 30-20 in Game 4 of the first-round playoff series, and by a combined 60-32 margin in the two games (both Vancouver victories) at Bridgestone Arena.

“It's tough,” a shell-shocked Roman Josi said after the game. “It hurts, and obviously everybody's a little bit hurt right now, but sometimes you’ve got to focus on the process. Things happen in hockey. I've been a part of a lot of playoff series and things happen our way and sometimes things go the other way. You’ve just got to forget about it quick and make sure your game is in order and things will work out.”

When Brunette said earlier in the series that the Predators were "committed to the pain," this probably wasn't the kind of pain he had in mind.

“I really liked our third period, being up two goals,” Brunette said. “I thought we were really digging, everybody was pulling the rope. I think we've gotten better as the series has moved along. So, that's why it's a little disappointing that you don't get rewarded for it."

There wasn't much to dislike about the Predators' play for the majority of the game. They dictated the pace, were relentless on the forecheck, won puck battles, controlled Vancouver in the neutral zone.

“I think we’ve been getting better and better in the series, and I thought tonight was our best game probably,” Josi said. “Definitely deserved to win. But once we get on that plane to Vancouver tomorrow, we've got to forget about this one.”

They were three minutes away from a 2-2 series, having controlled the play in each of the past two games and facing a Canucks team with injury issues; now, they're facing elimination in Game 5 on Tuesday.

“We felt like we played a really good game for 55 minutes,” Josi said. “We just didn’t get the win. That’s just what happens sometimes. It’s 3-1 in the series. We’re going on the road. We need to win one on the road. We’ve done it before.”

Nashville has held the lead going into the third period in three of the series’ four games; has faced backup goaltenders in three of the four games; and has outshot Vancouver 100-71 across all four contests.

"Usually when you do the things we've been doing, if we can clear our mind and go back to work, the hockey gods may give you a little bit of a break," Brunette said. "Because I thought we did a lot of good things in both these home games, that we probably should have won at least won one, maybe two.”

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the margins for error are razor-thin. The Predators experienced that firsthand on Sunday, when what looked to be a series-tying win turned into a morale-crushing loss in a matter of minutes. Brunette, however, is not worried about his team's ability to respond.

“It hurts, but it's supposed to hurt and it's going to be hard, but it's supposed to be hard,” Brunette said. “That's got to be the mentality. It's going to be even harder the next game and we'll embrace it and we’ll move straight ahead. We'll try to play the best we can. We've been a really good road team all year. We just go win a game, be us and be the best version of us. And I think if we do that, regardless of what happens, we'll be okay.”

The Predators will look to stave off elimination when the series shifts back to Vancouver for Game 5 on Tuesday. Puck drop at Rogers Arena is set for 9 p.m. CT.