Nashville Predators' expected lineup vs Vancouver Canucks in Game 5 of NHL playoffs
VANCOUVER - The Nashville Predators are facing elimination against the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, but it doesn't look like they are making any changes to their lineup for Game 5.
At morning skate held at Rogers Arena, the Predators showed the same lines as Game 4, though coach Andrew Brunette said one potential change would be a game-time decision. He declined to specify which change, but he added he liked the way the team played overall recently in the series.
"I thought we looked like us, looked like our identity," Brunette said about Games 3 and 4 in Nashville. "We didn't get rewarded for it, but we will keep pounding away."
The Predators face elimination in Game 5 against the Canucks on Tuesday (9 p.m. CT, TBS).
Meanwhile, the Canucks are still dealing with injuries to their top two goaltenders Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith. At morning skate, coach Rick Tocchet said it was a "game-time decision" whether Arturs Silovs or Casey DeSmith would start in net for Vancouver.
Demko has been out since Game 1 with an undisclosed injury. Last week, Tocchet described his injury timeline as "week to week." DeSmith started Game 2 and Game 3, but suffered an undisclosed injury sometime during Game 3. That led to Silovs starting Game 4, backed up by Nikita Tolopilo.
Silovs made 27 saves in Sunday's 4-3 overtime win for the Canucks. It was his first start in the playoffs, and only the 10th start of his NHL career.
As the Predators try to pull off a 3-1 series comeback against the Canucks, Brunette acknowledged winning Game 5 doesn't just keep them alive in the series - it could change the narrative of the matchup altogether.
BRUNO KNOWS: Down 3-1 in a series? Nashville Predators' Andrew Brunette has been there - and won - twice
"Our group has an unbelievable opportunity to win a hockey game tonight," Brunette said. "You gotta win one. Everything changes after that."
Nashville Predators expected lineup for Game 5 vs Vancouver Canucks
Forwards
Filip Forsberg - Ryan O'Reilly - Gustav Nyquist
Mark Jankowski - Tommy Novak - Luke Evangelista
Jason Zucker - Colton Sissons - Anthony Beauvillier
Cole Smith - Michael McCarron - Kiefer Sherwood
Defense
Roman Josi - Dante Fabbro
Ryan McDonagh - Luke Schenn
Jeremy Lauzon - Alex Carrier
Goaltenders
Juuse Saros
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators-Canucks lineup for Game 5 of NHL playoffs. What's expected
