The Vancouver Canucks were one of the surprise teams of the 2023-24 National Hockey League regular season. Even though I had the Canucks making the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, nobody would have expected the Canucks to win the Pacific Division with 109 points.
On Sunday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Canucks’s second season started with a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators in game one of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Vancouver was one of two Canadian teams to win on Sunday, as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Colorado Avalanche 7-6.
Dakota Joshua led the Canucks in scoring with three points. He had two goals and one assist for three points. Joshua was one of two Canucks players with a multi-point game. The other was Norris Trophy favourite Quinn Hughes with two assists. The other two Canucks goal scorers were Elias Lindholm and Pius Suter.
The turning point in the game came early in the third period. Suter tied the game at two goals apiece, and then 12 seconds later Joshua scored the game-winner. The Predators, which are historically known for their defense, had a defensive lapse which was responsible for the Vancouver win. Joshua then scored again into an empty net. Game two is Tuesday.
