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DeSmith steps up with massive Canucks Game 3 win in Nashville

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
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Apr 27 2024, 2:28 am
DeSmith steps up with massive Canucks Game 3 win in Nashville
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports


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Casey DeSmith said prior to this game that he likes to have an “underdog mentality.”

Well, he’ll likely have fewer doubters after tonight.

The Vancouver Canucks netminder was the story in this game, carrying his team to a 2-1 road win in Game 3 over the Nashville Predators.

“Couldn’t come at a better time,” DeSmith told reporters after the game, when asked what it meant to get his first career NHL playoff victory.

“I was really disappointed with the result the other night. I thought the team played great and didn’t get the result that they deserved. So, [the win tonight] means a lot.”

Although the Canucks won, they were outshot 31-12.

Despite a lack of shots, the Canucks were finally able to break through on the power play.

After going 0-for-6 in Game 1 and 2, J.T. Miller broke the Canucks power play drought, snapping home a wrist shot over the blocker of Juuse Saros.

The Canucks were able to capitalize on this power play after 6-foot-6 Predators forward Michael McCarron blatantly bulled over DeSmith behind the net.

In the second period, Miller once again made the Predators pay on the power play. This time, he flashed his elite playmaking ability with a sublime pass to Brock Boeser, who buried the tip in right in front of Saros.

With a goal and an assist, Miller was the driving force for the Canucks offensively. He also had six of the team’s 12 shots on goal.

Speaking of those 12 shots, it was the lowest total ever by the Canucks in a playoff game. Not that they’ll care.

It was also just two shots more than the lowest total ever recorded in a playoff win.

It was the opposite of Game 2, where the Canucks couldn’t buy a goal despite registering 84 shot attempts. In this contest, the Canucks had just 33 shot attempts and were outshot 25-7 at even strength.

Even though the total wasn’t close on the shot clock, it didn’t really feel like the Predators were dominating. Nashville actually held only a slight edge in terms of 5-on-5 scoring chances, with a 18-14 edge over the Canucks.

DeSmith comes up clutch for Canucks

Talk about getting your first career playoff win in dramatic fashion.

DeSmith was stellar in this game. He shut the door early as the Preds came out flying. DeSmith then was nearly perfect in the third period, with the Canucks being outshot 14-3. However, Luke Evangelista spoiled his shutout bid with just over three minutes remaining.

There were some tense moments in the final minute as well. The Predators stormed the net and came close to scoring, but DeSmith was able to shut the door.

That was a really gutsy effort,” DeSmith said. “And they brought it in that final three minutes. They came hard and we didn’t crack.”

Although he was the Canucks’ most important player on the evening, DeSmith had a lot of praise for his teammates, citing Vancouver going 2-for-3 on the power play while killing off all five of the penalties that they took.

The Canucks also gave Nashville a taste of their own medicine. After the Predators blocked 33 shots in Game 2, Vancouver went ahead and blocked 30 shots in this contest. Ian Cole led the team with five blocks.

“Blocking shots is a non-negotiable part of this time of year,” Cole told Canucks reporter Kate Pettersson. “They’ve done a great job of that as the first two games went along, and just the way this game went, that’s what we had to do.”

“We’re happy to do it. Whatever it takes to get a win and try to help Casey out as best we can.”

Game 4 is back at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Sunday at 2 pm PT.

Trevor BeggsTrevor Beggs
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