What Did We Learn From Game 1 in the Predators-Canucks Series?

Game 1 happened tonight between the Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators in the Western Conference Semifinals. You have the Vancouver Canucks who won an emotional Game 7 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Alex Burrows the OT game-winner. Then you have the Nashville Predators who took the Ducks to six games and eventually won it thanks to their tall goaltender called Pekka Rinne. You would expect that their two factors would come into play. Well, for both teams, it certainly was a good night.

The deciding score, however, went by the way of the Vancouver Canucks who scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over the Predators in Game 1. You can look at the defensive plays, the offensive failings of both teams, but what really stands out in this game is the magnificent goaltending of Pekka Rinne. He stopped every shot that came to him. He held the goal in net. He was spectacular making sure to gobble up those loose rebounds and kick them back to his teammates. He is probably one of the best goaltenders of the year. However, the factor didn't side with him. He let in one goal and that cost the Predators a chance in Game 1.

Game 2 might be different. The Predators could come out with their fire and passion. They really need to get Pekka Rinne some help on the offensive side of the net. Their defense is spectacular but their offense definitely was not on its game. The intensity will need to build up for a Nashville team that emphasizes so much on defense, but in Game 2, the offense needs to come around. Mike Fisher is a great player as is Patric Hornquist and David Legwand. They need to get their game together and get some pucks on goal. If they don't, Game 2 will find Vancouver winning it.



Nothing can be said much about the Vancouver Canucks right now, since they did everything they could tonight. They didn't let their emotions from the Game 7 win impact what they could do on the ice tonight. It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a good one. The offense was great, it was just that Pekka Rinne was too good of a goalie in net tonight.

That's Game 1 in the books. What will happen in Game 2 between these two epic rivals? If you come back on Saturday, I'll tell you what I expect to see. Until then, keep reading, puckheads!

Matthew Barnaby has the recap of Game 1 and his analysis of the game in the video link here: http://www.youtube.com/user/ESPN?blend=1&ob=5#p/u/8/J3Zo3pyKi_o. The embedding was disabled by ESPN so I could not link it here.