Cole Smith’s third-period goal lifted Nashville to a 2-1 win over Vancouver Thursday, capping the Canucks’ road trip with a second straight loss.
Late Heroics in Nashville
Cole Smith broke a 1–1 deadlock with a third-period strike, leading the Nashville Predators to a 2–1 victory over the visiting Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena. The tightly contested matchup marked the Predators’ third win of the season, improving their record to 3-3-2.
O’Reilly Opens the Scoring
After a scoreless first period that saw the Canucks miss several power-play opportunities, Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly found the net at 9:01 of the second frame. O’Reilly’s shorthanded rush down the left wing ended with a precise wrist shot that slipped past Vancouver goaltender Thatcher Demko, giving the home side a 1–0 advantage.
Canucks Answer Back
Vancouver responded just over two minutes later when forward Max Sasson notched his third goal in five games. Taking a feed from Linus Karlsson, Sasson beat Nashville’s Juuse Saros through the five-hole to even the score 1–1, temporarily restoring hope for the visitors.
Smith’s Shot Secures the Win
The deciding goal came early in the third. Smith floated a point shot that deflected off traffic and trickled past Demko at 5:09, barely crossing the goal line. Despite sustained pressure in the final minutes — including a six-on-five advantage — Vancouver couldn’t solve Saros, who finished with 20 saves.
Goaltenders Shine in Tight Battle
Both netminders were pivotal in keeping the game close. Demko turned aside 33 of 35 shots for Vancouver, maintaining his strong early-season form, while Saros’s late save on Brock Boeser preserved Nashville’s narrow lead and secured the win.
Road Trip Ends in Frustration for Vancouver
The Canucks (4–4–0) wrapped up their five-game road swing with back-to-back losses after opening with three straight victories. They’ll look to rebound at home on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens (4 p.m. PT) before facing the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday (7 p.m. PT).
