Here's what went wrong for the Nashville Predators in the NHL playoffs

Two weeks after it began, the Nashville Predators' run in the NHL playoffs is over.

Shortly after the Vancouver Canucks finished off the Predators 1-0 in Game 6 — clinching the best-of-seven first-round series four games to two — the teams exchanged handshakes at center ice at Bridgestone Arena.

The Canucks move on to face the Edmonton Oilers, while the Predators stay home, wondering what could have been. The inability to hold a lead late in games — including a devastating loss in Game 4, where they had a two-goal lead with three minutes to go — will haunt them this summer.

But that's not the full story. Here are the main reasons the Predators lost this series to the Canucks.

Predators unable to capitalize on Canucks' goaltending injuries

This series came down to which team was most able to support its goaltender, and which goaltender was most able to rise to the moment when needed.

While Juuse Saros started all six games for Nashville — and was excellent at times, especially in Game 6 — Vancouver was forced to start two backups because of injuries.

But somehow, despite his pedigree, Saros was not consistently the best goaltender in the series.

Saros didn't have his best regular season (35-24-5 record, .906 save percentage), but improved down the stretch, going 14-3-3 with a .914 save percentage in his final 20 games of the regular season.

His numbers against the Canucks were OK, but not great. He stopped 108 of 120 shots for a .900 save percentage; his best performance came in Game 6, when he stopped 28 of 29 shots.

SAROS GONE? Exclusive: What Juuse Saros said about Nashville Predators possibly trading him

Meanwhile, the Canucks' backup goalies Casey DeSmith, who played in relief of injured starter Thatcher Demko, and Arturs Silovs — who played in relief of DeSmith when he was hurt — did well enough to win in their starts. Neither has more talent than Saros, but their approach to not overcommit on shots — to make the saves they know how to make — was a more successful strategy in the end.

Silovs, who emerged as the go-to starter for coach Rick Tocchet, was well protected by his defense. He finished with 75 saves on 80 shots for a .937 save percentage, winning Games 4 and 6.

As the summer begins, general manager Barry Trotz has a decision to make regarding Saros. Namely, whether to sign him to another deal or to trade him in his final year and opt to go with Yaroslav Askarov, their next goalie in the pipeline.

Predators' power play sees past nightmares return

It seems like after every Predators playoffs exit, poor performance on the power play is partly to blame. And for good reason: Since the 2020-21 season, they have scored only eight power play goals in the playoffs.

That's eight power play goals in 16 postseason games. Simply put, that's terrible.

And this playoff run was no exception. The Predators' power play finished the series with only two goals in 22 chances for a 9% success rate. The Canucks' power play finished with the same number of goals, but in only 13 chances.

POWER DOWN: How Nashville Predators' power play failed miserably in NHL playoffs Game 3 loss to Canucks

Although special teams were not a major factor in the series overall, Vancouver's ability to capitalize on the power play when it needed to made a big difference. Even one or two more goals on the man advantage, and the Predators are the ones headed to Edmonton in the second round.

Lost composure at key moments doom Predators

In Game 1, the Predators were up 2-1. Then in 12 crucial seconds of the third period, they were down 3-2, letting an opening win slip out of their fingers.

In Game 4, the collapse was even worse. They held a two-goal lead with less than three minutes to play, but with the Canucks' goalie pulled, the Predators could not withstand the 6-on-5 attack. Brock Boeser scored twice to tie the game 3-3, then Elias Lindholm scored 1:07 into overtime to give Vancouver a 3-1 series lead.

Those breakdowns were part of what doomed this team. Shifts after goals, important defensive draws when holding on to a lead, late moments in regulation — the Predators, to a man, lost focus in moments that really mattered.

COLLAPSE: Three takeaways from Predators' stunning OT loss in NHL playoffs Game 4 vs Canucks

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What went wrong for Nashville Predators in 2024 NHL playoffs