Predators prey upon major Canucks absence, tie series 1-1 with 4-1 win

The Nashville Predators took advantage of the absence of Thatcher Demko.

The Predators beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre in Vancouver to tie the Western Conference first-round playoff series at 1-1. Game 3 is Friday at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Demko, the Canucks' No. 1 goaltender, missed the game with a lower-body injury, and he could miss the remainder of the series. 

Demko missed March 9 to April 16 with a lower-body injury. Vancouver was 7-5-2 with a 2.86 goals-against average and .884 save percentage during Demko's regular-season absence.

Casey DeSmith was in goal Tuesday and gave up three goals on 15 shots. Nashville's final goal came into an empty net. Arturs Silovs is the team's backup goaltender if Demko can't return.

Juuse Saros stopped 17 of 18 shots for the Predators.

Filip Forsberg and Anthony Beauvillier each had a goal and an assist, while Colton Sissons and Kiefer Sherwood (empty net) also scored for the Predators. Forsberg and Soissons scored 1:35 apart in the second period to make the score 3-0.