NHL Playoffs First Round Preview: Predators Look to Stay Hot, Upset Canucks

(Photo : (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)) NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 19: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Vancouver Canucks takes a shot on goal with Tyson Barrie #22 of the Nashville Predators and Luke Schenn #2 of the Nashville Predators defending at Bridgestone Arena on December 19, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Vancouver Canucks won the game 5-2.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin, and there are several high-profile matchups on tap for the most exciting postseason in professional sports, including the Pacific Division champion Vancouver Canucks taking on the wild card qualifying Nashville Predators.

Over the next two months, we'll narrow the playing field down from 8 qualifying teams in each conference to just one left standing to hoist the Stanley Cup.

After a drama-filled race to the finish line of the regular season, the matchups are set, and it's time to break them down and give a series prediction.

The Canucks used a ferocious start to the season to build up a massive lead that they would not relinquish in the Pacific.

The Predators started slow, but got scorching hot in February and March to claim their spot.

NHL First Round Series Preview: Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks

This is an exciting matchup between two franchises that regularly made the playoffs in the 2010s, but are both having their best year in recent history at the same time.

Both teams can score and play exciting styles, so this series should be an outstanding one to watch, but which team has the edge?

The Canucks come in as a complete team, with Elias Petterson at center, Quinn Hughes on defense, and Thatcher Demko in goal surrounded by a solid supporting cast. The combination of high-end talent and quality depth that Vancouver possesses make them a tough out for anybody in this tournament.

Nashville, on the other hand, is led by scoring winger Filip Forsberg, all-world defenseman Roman Josi, and Juuse Saros between the pipes. Like Vancouver, the Preds have pieces like center Ryan O'Reilly and a resurgent Gustav Nyquist to supplement their stars.

NHL First Round Series Preview: Predators and Canucks Evenly Matched on Paper

Both teams look very solid under the hood, as the Canucks are fourth and the Predators sixth in 5-on-5 expected goals share since the calendar turned to 2024.

These teams both rightfully feel great about where they're at, and this series kind of feels like a toss-up, which is a compliment to the Predators and not an insult to the Canucks.

While all of the attention in the West is going to Dallas, Vegas, Edmonton, and Colorado, both of these teams are right there with them right now.

The Predators have more experience in playoff environments, and they might be playing a bit looser with lower expectations as the wild card team.

Either goalie could win this series for his team, but assuming Demko and Saros both play at a solid to good level, I actually like the upset in this series.

Look for Josi and Forsberg to give the Canucks fits, and while Vancouver's top line is great, it's been prone to cold spells at times this year. A quiet two games from the top Canucks could spell doom.