Canucks one step closer to West finals with 4-2 win

Ryan Kesler broke a tie with a power-play goal at 7:28 of the third period as the Vancouver Canucks beat the Nashville Predators, 4-2 to take a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals. The Canucks, the Presidents’ Trophy winners for the NHL’s best regular-season record, can close out the series Saturday night in Game 5 in Vancouver.

Vancouver's Christian Ehrhoff scored a power-play goal and had two assists, Kesler also had two assists, and Alexander Edler had a goal. Henrik Sedin notched his first points in the series with two assists and an empty-net goal with 20.6 seconds left.

For Friday night, Boston looks to finally sweep Philadelphia while the Detroit Red Wings will try to prevent being swept themselves by San jose at the Joe Louis Arena.