How Filip Forsberg delivered a playoff-changing goal just when Nashville Predators needed one

VANCOUVER - For the first 86 minutes of the Nashville Predators' first round series against the Vancouver Canucks, star forward Filip Forsberg was unrecognizable on the ice.

His puck-handling was careless, his shooting was inaccurate, and he wasn't playing with the same physical edge we've grown used to seeing.

Then - in an instant - he reappeared.

At the 13:31 mark of the second period in Game 2 on Tuesday, Forsberg looked like the 48-goal, offensive menace that we've seen this season. Pulling a loose puck onto his stick near the Canucks' net, stick-handling in a flash, and flicking a lightning quick shot over Casey DeSmith's shoulder into the net.

That goal ended up being the difference maker for Nashville, which went on to win 4-1 over Vancouver, withstanding a barrage of Canucks' shots in the third period to even the series 1-1.

Andrew Brunette on Filip Forsberg's Game 2 performance

"That was a huge goal," Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. "Big time. Pretty sick hands in tight. Doing what he does, what he's done all year."

With the Predators' top line held in check in the series to that point, Brunette acknowledged the Canucks' defensive effort has been effective in preventing Forsberg from doing much.

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The Predators' top line with Forsberg, Gustav Nyquist, and Ryan O'Reilly has been matched against the Canucks' second line with Connor Garland and Dakota Joshua, centered by Elias Lindholm. Lindholm's line is a physical, defensive line that has skill and speed, and so far at even strength, they've outscored O'Reilly's line 3-1.

"It's hard," Brunette said. "That line, they're checked pretty tightly. Space is minimal."

Forsberg credited Nyquist for making his goal possible. Not only did Nyquist have to win the face-off - something he doesn't do very often, as a winger - he battled below the goal line for possession, allowing the puck to come free for Forsberg.

"It was a great forecheck, (Nyquist) was battling. I had a little more time than I thought originally. I just tried to be patient," Forsberg said.

Forsberg added that his goal "changed momentum a little bit" even if the Canucks took over the game for the third period. Brunette said it was less about the momentum in Game 2, more about what it means for the series moving forward.

"I think (Forsberg) will get better," Brunette said. "I think a lot of our guys will get better."

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The Predators return home for Game 3 Friday, then host Game 4 on Sunday. Tuesday's win guarantees there will be a Game 5, which will take place in Vancouver on April 30.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Filip Forsberg scores playoff-changing goal in Predators-Canucks Game 2