Morning Skate: May 7

Tonight’s Slate:
Predators @ Canucks, 8:00 ET

Game of the Night:
Game 5: Nashville Predators @Vancouver Canucks
8:00 ET… TV: CBC, VERSUS

Players to watch:
NSH- Shea Weber
With their backs against the wall, look for the Preds to follow their captain.
VAN- Ryan Kesler
Who else? Kesler has been dominant in both ends of the ice all series long.

Projected Goaltenders:
NSH- Pekka Rinne (Playoff stats: 5-5, 2.57 GAA)
VAN- Roberto Luongo (Playoff stats: 7-4, 2.19 GAA)

Injury Report:
NSH- Steve Sullivan (lower body, out), Jerred Smithson (upper body, out), Marcel Goc (shoulder, out), Francis Bouillon and Matthew Lombardi (concussion, out)
VAN- Manny Malhotra (eye, out)

Game Thoughts:
After losing home-ice advantage in Game 2, the Canucks return home with a pair of road wins in their pocket, looking to close out the series tonight. The defense has sucked the air out of Nashville’s offense, which has five goals in four games. The Preds have played well with their backs against the wall all year, but they have never won a game when facing elimination. I have a feeling that won’t change tonight as Vancouver moves on.
Prediction: Canucks 2, Predators 1

Video of the Day:


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