Predators at Canucks
THE STORY: The Vancouver faithful have already begun serenading their franchise netminder with boos. How Roberto Luongo bounces back from the rough fan treatment will be front and center as he leads the Canucks into a showdown with the Nashville Predators on Thursday in a rematch of last year's Western Conference second-round series. Vancouver was soundly outplayed in the third period of a 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday, but it was Luongo who bore the brunt of the ire during the final 20 minutes. To his credit, the veteran goaltender took the high road when asked about it. "They're not happy with my play and I'm not happy with my play," he told reporters. "I guess they're entitled. That's fine. I understand that. I have to pick up my game and make some saves." Nashville is coming off a 3-1 loss in Edmonton on Monday, its third straight defeat after opening the year with back-to-back wins.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports South (Nashville), Rogers Sportsnet Vancouver.
ABOUT THE PREDATORS (2-2-1): A dependable defense that made the difference in consecutive victories to open the campaign has struggled of late, surrendering 11 goals during the losing skid. For a team that will struggle all season to score goals, better D is a necessity. David Legwand broke out with eight points in his first four games but did absolutely nothing against Edmonton, held scoreless without a shot on goal in 21 minutes of ice time.
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (2-3-1): Ryan Kesler looked like his old self Tuesday as he made his season debut following offseason hip surgery. He didn't record a point but had several decent scoring chances and finished with three shots and three hits. His presence should make things easier for Vancouver at both ends of the ice. The Sedins continue rolling along, each with two goals and five assists through the first six games of the season.
OVERTIME:
1. This is the first meeting between the clubs since the Canucks defeated the Predators in six games en route to a berth in the Stanley Cup final.
2. Kesler had zero points and a minus-five rating in four regular-season games against Nashville last year, but exploded for 11 points in the six-game second-round series.
3. Nashville defensemen Ryan Suter and Shea Weber are among the league leaders in ice time. Suter is second at 28:07 per game, while Weber is sixth at 26:50.