Canucks start 2nd round with shutout of Nashville, 1-0

Badly outshot and outplayed for two periods, Nashville's goalie Pekka Rinne made 29 saves to keep the Predators in it, but didn’t get nearly enough help as the Vancouver Canucks opened the Western Conference semifinals with a 1-0 win.

Rinne kept it close early on, but Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo made nine of his 20 saves in the third period to ensure Chris Higgins goal with 7:46 left in the second period stood up as the winner.

The Canucks, who host Game 2 on Saturday, wasted little time settling into the second round. Just two days after beating the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 7 of a series in which Vancouver had held a 3-0 lead, they looked more like a Presidents’ Trophy-winning team while outplaying Nashville. Vancouver quickly ended any fears of a letdown, but early on couldn’t solve Rinne, who made several spectacular stops.