Nashville Predators Doomed Themselves After Blown Opportunities in Games 1 & 4

The Nashville Predators got eliminated in six games by the Vancouver Canucks, but it was more than the final loss that doomed their short postseason run.

The Predators had every opportunity in the series, facing three different goalies and controlling the shots in the games. Unfortunately, the shots weren't all from great areas and the opportunity to finish out games wasn't seized.

While Nashville lost games 1, 3, 4, and 6, it was ultimately games 1 and 4 that put the dagger in the team's hopes of getting out of the first round.

Related: Missed Opportunities Haunt Predators in Game 6 Loss to Canucks

Let's start with the first game of the series where Thatcher Demko played. The Predators held a 1-0 lead after the first period and a 2-1 lead after the second period. Nashville outshot the Canucks 11-7 in the third period, but surrendered three goals (one empty net) to drop Game 1. The Predators couldn't hold a lead and set the standard in the series.

Game 4 was even worse than the first game as the Predators had a 3-1 lead with under three minutes to go in the game and blew it. Instead of tying the series at two, it put the Predators on the brink of elimination and forced them to win three games in a row. They could only pull off one and Nashville would have had to go into Vancouver and win twice in order to come back and move on to Round 2.

Lack of goal-scoring definitely played a part as 12 goals in six games isn't acceptable for any team in the playoffs. There is a very high chance that any goaltender won't be able to stand on his head every game. Juuse Saros finished with a .944 SV% or better in three games, but a .850 SV% or worse in the other three.

Having said that, the series should have at least gone to seven games. Two blown leads when the Predators were in control cost them, not being shut out by the third string goalie and losing to three different goaltenders.

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