Nashville Predators vs Vancouver Canucks
9:00 PM ET, April 28, 2011
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- The Nashville Predators arrived in Vancouver on Wednesday night to find a city still letting out a giant, collective sigh of relief.
They hope to catch the Canucks still catching their breath, too.
Vancouver beat the archrival Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime in Game 7 on Tuesday night after blowing a 3-0 lead in the emotional first-round series.
After being knocked around -- and out of the playoffs -- by Chicago the last two seasons, it was as much an exorcism as a series for the NHL's best regular-season team.
When it was over, relieved goalie Roberto Luongo said it was bigger than winning Olympic gold in the same building 14 months earlier. Center Ryan Kesler, who lost that gold-medal game to Luongo and Canada, agreed.
So it's easy to wonder if the Canucks are in for a letdown when the second round starts Thursday night.
They hope to catch the Canucks still catching their breath, too.
Vancouver beat the archrival Chicago Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime in Game 7 on Tuesday night after blowing a 3-0 lead in the emotional first-round series.
After being knocked around -- and out of the playoffs -- by Chicago the last two seasons, it was as much an exorcism as a series for the NHL's best regular-season team.
When it was over, relieved goalie Roberto Luongo said it was bigger than winning Olympic gold in the same building 14 months earlier. Center Ryan Kesler, who lost that gold-medal game to Luongo and Canada, agreed.
So it's easy to wonder if the Canucks are in for a letdown when the second round starts Thursday night.
Watch Nashville Predators vs Vancouver Canucks Live Stream Online Free Game 1 April 28, 2011
