Special teams made special plays for the Vancouver Canucks against the Nashville Predators in Friday's 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference quarterfinals at Bridgestone Arena.

Vancouver now leads the series over Nashville, 2-1.

The Canucks scored both of their goals on power plays on Friday. The first came in the first period from J.T. Miller, on the Canucks' first shot of the game. The second came from Brock Boeser in the second period with an assist from Miller.

Vancouver went 2-for-3 on the power play, Nashville was 0-for-5. The Predators had a 5-on-3 late in the third period. Ryan O'Reilly had a shot blocked by the visor on Ian Cole's helmet. The Canucks killed the penalty successfully.

Nashville's Luke Evangelista scored the Predators' lone goal with 3:12 left to play and give the Predators some life late in the game.

The Predators outshot the Canucks, 31-12, and had several opportunities to score. Namely, Colton Sissons had a slap shot beat Vancouver goaltender Casey DeSmith, but the puck stopped in the crease. Another opportunity was thwarted when Evangelista had a rebound in the crease blocked away by DeSmith.

Game 4 of the Western Conference quarterfinals is set for 4 p.m. Sunday at Bridgestone Arena.

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Nashville Predators live score updates vs. Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 NHL playoffs

Third period

Final: Canucks 2, Predators 1 | Vancouver holds on for victory in Game 3 on the road

Despite a goal from Luke Evangelista, the Nashville Predators couldn't find a second goal and drop Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals, 2-1.

Vancouver now leads the series, two games to one.

Nashville outshot Vancouver, 31-12, in Game 3. Twelve shots is the fewest in the Canucks' playoff history.

Canucks 2, Predators 1 with 3:12 to play in third period | Luke Evangelista brings Predators to within a goal

Luke Evangelista fired a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle past Casey DeSmith's glove to pull the Predators to within a goal with 3:12 to play.

Evangelista's goal is his first of his playoff career and was unassisted. The goal came on the Predators' 28th shot of the night.

The crowd at Bridgestone Arena is loud after the goal.

Nashville's net is empty for an extra attacker with two minutes to play.

Vancouver Canucks kill off key 5-on-3 situation against Nashville Predators

Ryan O'Reilly had a shot attempt on a virtually empty net blocked by the shaft of Ian Cole's stick on the 5-on-3.

Roman Josi and the Predators put powerful shots against Casey DeSmith, but the Canuck netminder kept the puck out.

Vancouver leads, 2-0, with 6:14 to play in Game 3.

Nashville Predators go on fourth power play in Game 3

Nashville is going on the power play for the fourth time tonight.

Vancouver's Brock Boeser was called for a trip against Alexandre Carrier with 10:53 left in the third period.

0-for-3 in Game 3 and 1-for-11 in the series. Ryan O'Reilly scored a power play in Game 1 for the lone power play goal of the series.

With 21 seconds left in the power play, Vancouver's Nikita Zadorov shot the puck over the glass from his own goal line. This is the Canucks' second delay of game penalty.

Nashville will have 21 seconds of 5-on-3 and will have 1:39 of a power play.

Spencer Stastney not on Nashville Predators bench at start of third period

Nashville defenseman Spencer Stastney left the Nashville bench late in the second period of Game 3. He did not return to the bench at the start of the third period.

Stastney exited the game for about seven game minutes after taking a hit to the head from Vancouver's Dakota Joshua.

UPDATE: The Predators announced Stastney is out of the game with an upper body injury.

Second period

Canucks 2, Predators 0 after two periods at Bridgestone Arena

Game 3 is intense, both teams are getting after one another. Brock Boeser put the Canucks up, 2-0, with a power play goal early in the period.

Nashville outshot Vancouver, 11-6, in the second period and hold a 16-9 advantage through two periods. Nashville leads in faceoffs (67%-33%) and has outhit Vancouver, 21-18.

Vancouver has 16 blocked shots against Nashville's 10.

Quick penalties put Predators, Canucks in 3-on-3 situation

Just over a minute into the 4-on-4, Nashville's Gustav Nyquist was called for a cross-check against Vancouver's J.T. Miller, who was called for a slash.

The teams will play 3-on-3 for 56 seconds, at least.

Neither team scored from the penalties, but the animosity between the two teams is growing more fierce by the minute.

Great opportunity for Predators turns into 4-on-4 late in late second period

Shots from Filip Forsberg and Luke Evangelista were saved by Casey DeSmith, including Evangelista's shot from just outside the crease.

Vancouver's Quinn Hughes held Evangelista near the net and was going to be sent to the penalty box and give the Predators a power play. However, Evangelista and Hughes were wrestling with one another behind the net. Evangelista was issued a minor penalty for roughing.

The teams will play two minutes of 4-on-4 hockey.

Canucks 2, Predators 0 at 15:27 of second period | Brock Boeser puts Vancouver Canucks up two with tip-in goal

Brock Boeser scored his first career playoff goal with a tip-in goal with 15:27 left in the second period. J.T. Miller, who scored the first goal of the game, fired a saucer pass toward Boeser near the Predator crease.

Quinn Hughes picked up his second assist of the night.

Predators nearly score first goal, Canucks clear puck in crease

Colton Sissons fired a slap shot at Casey DeSmith, the shot beat DeSmith and leaked into the crease. The puck stopped in the crease and was cleared out by the Canuck defense.

It's still 1-0, Vancouver, two minutes into the period.

First period

Canucks 1, Predators 0 after one period

Vancouver killed off three penalties while scoring a power play goal of its own to take a 1-0 lead after the first period at Bridgestone Arena.

Nashville has dominated virtually every aspect of the game, but going 0-for-3 on the power play leaves the Predators down one.

The Predators are leading faceoff percentage (77%-23%), hits (12-9), shots on goal (5-3) and takeaways (3-1). The Canucks lead blocked shots, 8-4.

Nashville Predators go on power play after Canucks called for delay of game

Vancouver's Teddy Blueger shot the puck over the glass in the defensive zone and was called for a delay of game with 2:28 left in the first period.

Nashville is 0-for-2 on the power play in the first period.

The Predators missed out on their third power play opportunity of the first period and generated one shot.

Vancouver again goes on power play after Ryan McDonagh called for hooking

Ryan McDonagh was called for hooking 1:06 after the Canucks scored the game's first goal.

Vancouver is 1-for-1 on the power play with one shot.

The Predators killed off the penalty and Vancouver generated two shots.

Canucks 1, Predators 0 at 6:37 of first period | Vancouver's J.T. Miller scores on power play for first Canucks goal

One shot, one goal for the Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 against the Nashville Predators.

J.T. Miller scored his first goal of the series with a power play goal with 6:37 left in the first period at Bridgestone Arena.

Nashville had attempted to clear the puck on the penalty kill, but the puck stayed in the Canucks' offensive zone. Miller fired the shot from just beyond the faceoff circle and beat Predators goaltender Juuse Saros glove side.

Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson were credited with assists on the goal.

Vancouver Canucks go on first power play of game against Nashville Predators

Nashville's Michael McCarron was whistled for goaltender interference against Casey DeSmith.

Vancouver had just killed off the second Nashville power play with 7:32 to play in the first period.

Predators draw another Canucks penalty, Nashville goes on second power play

Filip Forsberg drew a penalty on a Predators' rush when Vancouver's Tyler Myers high-sticked the Nashville forward.

The Predators go on the power play again with 9:53 to play in the first period.

Nashville generated one shot on their second power play of the game but is now 0-for-2 on the man-advantage.

Predators go on first power play of game, Spencer Stastney exits game

Nashville defenseman Spencer Stastney took a hit to the head on the end boards from Dakota Joshua early in the first period.

Stastney exited the game with 15:03 left in the first period. Joshua was issued a two-minute minor penalty.

Nashville did not register a shot on the power play but had one shot attempt.

Stastney returned to the ice just a few minutes later and blocked a shot.

National anthem singers before Predators-Canucks Game 3

Colbie Caillat sang the United States national anthem before Game 3 at Bridgestone Arena.

Cathy Mullins sang "Oh, Canada" before Caillat sang the "Star Spangled Banner."

Nashville Predators starting lines against Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of NHL playoffs first round

Filip Forsberg, Ryan O'Reilly and Gustav Nyquist lead the top forward line for the Nashville Predators in Game 3 against the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan McDonagh and Roman Josi are the top defensive pairing for the Predators.

Starting goaltenders: Nashville Predators' Juuse Saros vs. Vancouver Canucks' Casey DeSmith

Nashville's Juuse Saros starts in net for the third game of the series. Saros has a 2.01 goals-against average with a .895 save percentage in the first two games of the series.

Vancouver won Game 1, 4-2, on Sunday; Nashville won Game 2, 4-1, on Tuesday.

Vancouver's Casey DeSmith made 12 saves in the Game 2 loss. He has a 2.89 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage in the playoffs. DeSmith started Game 2 after starter Thatcher Demko suffered an injury in Game 1. Demko is listed as week-to-week and is not expected to play in Game 3.

What channel is Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 3 on today?

• TV channel: Bally Sports South locally, TBS nationally

• Stream: Bally Sports App, FUBO (free trial)

Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 3 start time

• Date: Friday, April 26

• Time: 6:30 p.m. CT

Predators vs. Canucks NHL playoffs Game 3 betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, April 25

• Puck line: Predators -1.5 at +220, Canucks +1.5 at -275

• Total goals: 6 goals

• Money line: Predators -115, Canucks -105

Nashville Predators vs. Vancouver Canucks NHL playoffs first-round schedule

All times Central

Game 1: Canucks 4, Predators 2

Game 2: Predators 4, Canucks 1

Game 3: Vancouver at Nashville; 6:30 p.m. CT, Friday, April 26 on TBS and Bally Sports South

Game 4: Vancouver at Nashville; 4 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 28 on TBS, truTV and Bally Sports South

Game 5: Nashville at Vancouver; Time TBD on Tuesday, April 30 on Bally Sports South locally, TBD nationally

Game 6 (if necessary): Vancouver at Nashville; TBD on Friday, May 3

Game 7 (if necessary): Nashville at Vancouver; TBD on Sunday, May 5

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators fall to Vancouver Canucks in Game 3 of NHL playoffs