There’s extra motivation for the Canucks to close out the series in Game 5

The Vancouver Canucks have a chance to punch their ticket to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday night.

Carrying a 3-1 series lead over the Nashville Predators, the Canucks can win the franchise’s first playoff series since 2020. However, there is an extra incentive to get the job done in Game 5 on home ice.

While Vancouver has the commanding lead in the series, it has not been an easy path. While splitting the two games of the series with the Predators, Vancouver ended up losing its Vezina Trophy finalist, Thatcher Demko, due to injury. Then, after Casey DeSmith pitched a near-perfect performance in Game 3, he was ruled out with an injury hours before Game 4. Thankfully, Arturs Silovs stepped and played well in Canucks’ 4-3 overtime win.

All this to say, a win over Nashville on Tuesday night would prove beneficial in giving Vancouver time to rest and avoid a case of jetlag before the second round.

On Tuesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk explain why it would be key for the Canucks to close things out in Game 5.

Frank Seravalli: The incentive is, as JT Miller framed it so eloquently, 8.5 hours less flying. That’s really what they’re starting down here, the ability to not just get additional rest, but also not traverse the continent again, 4.5 hours to Nashville for Game 6 on Friday night, and wait a couple extra days. They got an incredible opportunity here, and maybe the best part for the Vancouver Canucks is they haven’t played a good game this series yet, and they have a 3-1 series lead.

They’ve had a lot of things working against them, it’s been a low-event series. 12 total shots on goal in Game 3, 13 through two periods in Game 4…[The Canucks] have lots of reasons to close it out.

Tyler Yaremchuk: The NHL won’t want to start any Round 2 series until Round 1 is done. So, if you’re Vancouver, you know if you win, you have home ice in Round 2, no matter who you play. If you’re Vancouver, you’re saying…”We could be sitting at home, and everybody’s resting up all the way until potentially next Monday.”

You can watch the entire segment and full episode here…