Dakota Joshua scores two goals to help Canucks past Predators 4-2 in Game 1 of playoff series

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Dakota Joshua scored twice and had an assist and the Vancouver Canucks stormed back for a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series Sunday night.

Trailing 2-1, the Canucks rallied midway through the third period with a pair of goals 12 seconds apart – from Pius Suter and Joshua.

Elias Lindholm also scored and Thatcher Demko stopped 20 shots for Vancouver, which was the Pacific Division champion and was hosting its first playoff game since 2015.

Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly scored for Nashville, and Juuse Saros made 17 saves.

The Canucks trailed 2-1 when Suter tied the score at 8:59 of the third. Quin Hughes took a pass from Brock Boeser and fired a shot that deflected from just inside Suter’s blue line and past Saros.

Just 12 seconds later, Lindholm checked Jeremy Lauzon behind the Predators’ net and shook him off the puck. Conor Garland picked up the ball and flicked it to Joshua, who sent it in from the top of the crease to give Vancouver a 3-2 lead.

Demko maintained the one-goal lead with a series of late stops, including one on Roman Josi with 1:49 remaining.

The Predators pulled Saros and Joshua took advantage, scoring his second goal of the night into an empty net with 1:28 remaining, sealing the victory.

Nashville opened the scoring at 15:15 when Zucker took a pass from Josi and sent a shot through traffic from the top of the faceoff circle, beating Demko’s stick side.

Lindholm tied the score in the second 47 seconds by sending a long wrist shot past Saros.

The Canucks ran into penalty foul trouble midway through the second and had three calls in just over six minutes. Nashville took advantage of their first man advantage after Teddy Blueger was sent to the box for interference.

Gustav Nyquist slid a pass to O’Reilly, who launched a shot into the top corner of Vancouver’s net. It was O’Reilly’s 26th career playoff goal.

NOTES: The Canucks had 39 hits, while the Predators had 32. Predators forward Cole Smith had a game-high six. … Josi has 32 career assists, setting a Predators record. He also has the franchise mark for playoff points by a defenseman with 43.

Game 2 is Tuesday in Vancouver.