4 takeaways from Predators' Game 5 win as they stave off NHL playoff elimination vs Canucks

VANCOUVER — The Nashville Predators beat the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 in Game 5 after a late go-ahead goal by Alex Carrier.

As a result, the Predators force Game 6 in the series, which will be played Friday at Bridgestone Arena (time TBD).

Here's four takeaways from the Predators' win in Game 5.

Nashville Predators weather early storm by Vancouver Canucks

The Predators were on their heels for much of the first period. The Canucks, eager to give their home fans a reason to make Rogers Arena even louder, were pressing into the Predators' zone for long stretches of play.

Though they ended up with only eight shots in the first period, the Canucks had several rebound and backdoor chances went just wide. Vancouver finished with 24 shot attempts in the period, compared to just 12 for Nashville.

Even the Predators' lone power play of the period struggled to get anything going, constantly having to handle Canucks' forecheckers in their own zone.

But Nashville weathered the storm, closing out the period with a scoreless tie. Considering how many chances Vancouver had in the first 20 minutes, the Predators probably felt comfortable with that result.

Juuse Saros and Nikita Zadorov's goal

After withstanding another series of chances by the Canucks, the Predators looked ready to counterpunch as the game entered the third period.

Then Nikita Zadorov scored at the 16:49 mark — and it's one that Juuse Saros should have stopped.

Coming down the left wing, Zadorov fired a tough angle shot just over Saros' shoulder to give the Canucks a 1-0 lead.

Saros seemed like he was expecting a pass toward the middle, so he didn't quite cover the post. The shot came in at the perfect height to beat Saros.

Roman Josi credited for goal on scramble in front of Arturs Silovs

The Predators were able to tie it up on Roman Josi's first goal of the playoffs, but looking at how the play unfolded, the score happened more as a result of the Canucks' over-eager defenseman.

Josi sped toward the net with the puck, getting a shot by Arturs Silovs. For a moment, the puck lay in the crease behind him. Then, as Gustav Nyquist tried to find the rebound, Zadorov tried to check him out of the crease, but inevitably caused the puck to slide into the net.

Josi was credited with the goal, but it was really the overzealous Canucks defenseman who caused the goal.

Alex Carrier delivers the biggest goal of his NHL career

Defenseman Alex Carrier has scored only 10 goals in his young NHL career, and entering Game 5, he had yet to score a playoff goal.

Then with 7:14 left in the game, he scored the biggest goal of his life.

With the Predators bearing down in the offensive zone, Carrier took a pass from Nyquist at the top of the zone and sent a long shot toward the net. With Silovs having to deal with net front traffic, he never saw the puck.

That gave the Predators a 2-1 lead, and they held on to win the game.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators stay alive in NHL playoffs, beat Canucks in Game 5