How Nashville Predators must exploit this advantage in NHL playoffs vs Vancouver Canucks

On Sunday, when the Nashville Predators take on the Vancouver Canucks in Game 1 of their best-of-7 first-round series, each side will be looking to exploit favorable matchups.

In the NHL playoffs, teams hunt tirelessly for that edge. A skilled forward group against a slow-footed defensive pair. A quick-skating defenseman who can outmaneuver a forecheck. Hockey is a game of small margins in the regular season — in the playoffs, those margins shrink dramatically, so finding advantageous matchups is key.

For the Predators, one matchup in particular gives them an important edge.

Predators' power play vs. Canucks' penalty kill

This may surprise some longtime Predators fans, but Nashville's power play is a strength heading into the playoffs.

Since Feb. 1, the Predators have the second-ranked power play unit in the league, scoring at a 27.2% rate and putting up 25 power-play goals in the team's final 31 games. Even after the franchise-record 18-game points streak ended, the power play was still putting up numbers, scoring 10 times in the team's final 10 games.

Looking at Vancouver's penalty kill in that same span, the advantage goes to Nashville.

Since Feb. 1, the Canucks' penalty kill has a 77.9% success rate, which ranks 16th in the league. Opponents have scored 23 power-play goals in their final 33 games — including nine goals allowed in the team's final 10 games.

Not an awful unit, but not a stifling one, either. It's a small margin, but an important one.

Nashville Predators' power play needs to create momentum

The Predators' top power-play unit consists of Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Ryan O'Reilly, Gustav Nyquist and Luke Evangelista.

Evangelista was a late-season addition, replacing Cody Glass. He has been a key part of that success, bringing a unique set of skills and playmaking vision. His ability to operate in tight spaces makes him a perfect complement to the rest of the group.

Because the group includes Forsberg, who just put up the highest-scoring season in Predators history, and Josi, who leads all NHL defensemen in goals, you like their chances of putting pucks in the net.

But one thing to remember about power plays: While scoring is always the goal, power plays carry other ramifications. If you create chances, tire out the penalty killers and make the goaltender work hard for saves, even if you don't score, you've done your job. Those minutes of hard work add up.

On the other hand, a huge kill at the right moment can give a team a significant boost. The Predators saw that happen in their comeback win against Vegas a few weeks back.

For the Predators to take full advantage of this matchup, they need to use their power play to build momentum in games. Again, scoring is the goal, but using the man advantage to boost your play at even strength is just as important.

If they are able to do that, this matchup should help them find enough of an edge to win the series.

PREDICTIONS: Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks: NHL playoffs series prediction, scouting report

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators must jump on this advantage vs Canucks in NHL playoffs