Luongo, Canucks shut out predators by early series

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — the hardest part of the first two periods for Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo was staying awake while all the action was at the other end of the ice. By Darryl Dyck, AP

After a series of unstable phase, goaltender Roberto Luongo, left the Canucks responded with a shutout in a 1-0 victory over the predators on Thursday.

By Darryl Dyck, AP

After a series of unstable phase, goaltender Roberto Luongo, left the Canucks responded with a shutout in a 1-0 victory over the predators on Thursday.

He really couldn't relax while at the premiere of the Western Conference semi-final series on Thursday night as Nashville Predators Pekka Rinne turned away more than Vancouver triggered.Luongo made nine of his 20 saves in the third period to ensure the goal of the second period, Chris Higgins stood as the Canucks opened the second set with a 1-0 win over Nashville. While Luongo faced only 12 shots in the first two períodosRinne stopped 25 of 26 units — several in spectacular fashion — to keep it close. "Luongo shots are 20-5, then you don't want to give a goal and suddenly is 1-0 to them," he said. "That is his mentality. You focus on engage in play and making sure you are clear when you get a shot. "Trying harder Luongo faced was a short-handed breakaway Republic 5: 20 in the third period, but he waited patiently Mike Fisher (FSY) glove hand shot and kept him out of the network. "Luongo some shots early in the third and I was able to resolve," he said of his second shutout in these playoffs and third of his career in the postseason in NHL.The Canucks, who will host game 2 on Saturday, lost little time settling in the second round.Just two days after beating archrival Chicago in overtime of game 7 of a series in which Vancouver had had a 3-0 advantage, the Canucks looked more like team Presidents ' Trophy winner ended quickly any. Vancouver fears a disappointmentbut at the beginning could not solve Rinne, who did a lot of stellar stops. Nashville was outshot 26-11 two periods but was only 1-0. Rinne finished with 29 saves and a loss hard luck. "He is one of the best goalkeepers in the League, "said Canucks Captain Henrik Sedin (FSY). "We must put more in, but one was good enough."Although most wanted to know if the Canucks would fight, was the fifth-seeded predators that seemed a little tired of the road after arriving in Vancouver on Wednesday night. Nashville, off since eliminating Anaheim in game 6 on Sunday, came out flat in his first game of the second round in team history. "The biggest disappointment that you may have is when you have an expectation of someone you want to go to war with every night, and they are letting you down," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We had many passengers, not enough guys pulling the rope. I mean, we're in the semifinals of the Conference. Are you kidding me? Not acceptable. "Vancouver outshot Nashville 16-5 in the first period, but Rinne made the best of a bunch of great defenses with his glove to avoid any second chances. "I don't know what was the problem, "said Rinne, refusing to blame the trip or late arrival. "It was us. We respect your team, it is a good hockey team, but was in we just don't have it. Last series that we were the ones dictating the pace of the game and tonight was the opposite. "Higgins finally scored on shot 24 the Canucks, taken with 11: 46 left in the second after a turnover in Nashville blue line led to a 3-in-1 downstairs.

Canucks lead 1-0.

Game 1: Vancouver 1, Nashville 0

On April 30: in Vancouver, 9 p.m. (Versus)

On 3 may: in Nashville, 9 p.m. (Versus)

On May 5: at Nashville, 8: 30 hours (Versus)

x-may 7: Vancouver, 8 hours (Versus)

x-9 may: in Nashville, TBA (Versus)

x-may 11: Vancouver, TBA (Versus)

x-if necessary. All times ET

Higgins, who also opened the scoring in the first round, had a cross-ice Maxim Lapierre (FSY) into the slot and fired a shot as Rinne stacked the pads while sliding across. The disc was off Rinne and up and under the crossbar. He returned to the net so quickly, the referee signaled no goal. Play continued even as Higgins began celebrating with teammates ".I saw this before all others, but I'm glad he came, "Higgins said. "We had some great chances and he made some great saves. It is really, really good at catching the disc, and there weren't many second-chance opportunities. "A quick video review confirmed that the puck struck something within the network before popping out. That was all the offense Luongo needed.He made good saves to deny Sergei Kostitsyn (FSY) and Jordin Tootoo (FSY) slot later in the period, stayed with Fisher during the separatist Republic, controlled by a hard shot from Shea Weber (FSY) on a power play and got a break when Weber missed an empty net on a backdoor pass nice about the same advantage.It is definitely my fault that we do not tie it up, "said Weber. "I had the entire network to hit there. I tried doing it under the bar and I put it on the network. "Notes: Both teams were 0-for-5 on the power play. ... Canucks LW Alex Burrows (FSY) scored the series winning Tuesday, and his wife gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Victoria, the next night. ... The Canucks are in the second round for the fourth time in five seasons, but haven't reached the Western Conference finals since 1994. ... Nashville will host games 3 and 4.