Words don't do justice in describing the end of the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators game four on Sunday.
Led by Brock Boeser’s hat trick, the Canucks scored two goals in the final three minutes of regulation and Elias Lindholm scored the game-winner in overtime to take a 3-1 series lead.
Heading into Sunday’s match, the Canucks announced goaltender Casey DeSmith was not going to play and that third-string netminder Arturs Silovs would make his playoff debut.
The 23-year-old had previously appeared in nine NHL games and hopes were high for the rookie.
ARTY PARTY 🎉
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 29, 2024
First playoff start.
First playoff win.
Shoutout Šilovs for battlin' all night. pic.twitter.com/lyZoXtzX1x
The Canucks opened the scoring in the first period on Boeser’s second goal of the playoffs, but the lead did not last long as Nashville tied the game a few minutes later.
The Predators added a goal in the second period and doubled their lead 12 seconds into the third period when Filip Forsberg scored a controversial goal that many thought he kicked the puck into the net.
SCORESBERG pic.twitter.com/zo9xtFBUQG
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 28, 2024
It was looking like the series was going to return to Vancouver tied until Boeser scored his second of the night with 2:49 left on the clock.
The Canucks continued their assault on the net, with Boeser tying the game with eight seconds left in regulation.
Vancouver kept their momentum going into overtime as Lindholm was open in front of the net and buried the puck for the 4-3 win.
23 COMING UP CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/72VbiOS07r
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 29, 2024
The series will now shift back to Rogers Arena as Vancouver has a chance to move on to the second round on Tuesday.
The Edmonton Oilers were also in action on Sunday as they took a page out of the Canucks book and won 1-0 with 13 shots on goal against the LA Kings.
Earlier in the day, the Winnipeg Jets lost to the Colorado Avalanche and are now on the brink of elimination.
The New York Rangers swept the Washington Capitals and for the first time in his career, Alex Ovechkin did not record a point in a playoff series.
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