Boeser's hat trick helps Canucks rally, push Preds to brink of elimination

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Brock Boeser had the best playoff game of his career at the perfect moment for the Vancouver Canucks.

Boeser had his first hat trick in the playoffs, then Elias Lindholm scored 1:02 into overtime as the Canucks stunned Nashville 4-3 on Sunday night grabbing a 3-1 lead to put the Predators on the brink of elimination in their best-of-seven, first-round series.

Lindolm beat goalie Juuse Saros over his stick with a wrister from just in front of the crease off a pass from Conor Garland.

“I was wide open right in front,” Lindholm said. "So, I mean, obviously we scored a goal and got kind of relief and a lot of emotions and lost my voice a little bit. But it’s a good feeling.”

Boeser scored on Vancouver's first shot and got the Canucks into overtime scoring twice in the final 2:49. His third came with 8 seconds left in regulation to quiet a Nashville crowd that celebrated much of the third period. Boeser said he knew time was ticking down after he hit the post and had the puck again.

"I just kind of saw an opportunity like to jam it and just try it, and it worked,” Boeser said.

J.T. Miller had three assists. The Canucks now will have a chance to advance Tuesday night in Vancouver in Game 5.

Filip Forsberg, Gustav Nyquist and Mark Jankowski all scored for Nashville, which also blew a 2-1 lead losing Game 1 giving up three goals in the third period. It was the first time the Predators lost a playoff game leading by two or more goals in the third period in franchise history.

“We just kind of broke down and lost a little composure there in the end,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said.

The Canucks won with Arturs Silovs making 27 saves in his NHL playoff debut as their third different starting goalie.

“He made some big saves for us tonight, and he’s a huge part of our win,” Boeser said.

The sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft from Riga, Latvia, replaced Casey DeSmith, who got his first postseason win Friday night in Game 2. He took over in net for All-Star Thatcher Demko who is week-to-week after winning Game 1.

The Canucks became only the second team in NHL history with three different goalies to win each of their first three games in a postseason. Vancouver also did it during the 2004 Western quarterfinals with Dan Cloutier in Game 1, Johan Hedberg in Game 3 and Alex Auld in Game 6.

Chicago in the 1972 quarterfinals was the only other team in NHL history with three different goalies to win a game at any point in a series. Tony Esposito won Game 1, Gary Smith took Game 3 and Gerry Desjardins was in net for Game 4.

This felt much more like a Smashville playoff game with Little Big Town handling the national anthem in style followed by seven catfish hitting the ice before the puck dropped.

Will Levis, quarterback of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, also helped ramp up the home crowd. His new center Lloyd Cushenberry III snapped a catfish to Levis on the band stand, and the quarterback kissed the fish.

Boeser put Vancouver up 1-0 with a wrister just 2:55 in from the front edge of the left circle for his second goal in as many games. Jankowski got his stick on Jeremy Lauzon’s slap shot and tied it up for Nashville at 5:34 with the teams skating 4-on-4.

Nyquist put Nashville up 2-1 at 5:21 of the second, finishing off a 2-on-1 with a wrister from the right circle for his first goal in this series. Forsberg seemed to clinch the win with captain Roman Josi's pass going off his right skate 12 seconds into the third until Vancouver's late rally.

Josi called it a “crazy ending.” The Canucks won their first playoff game when trailing by at least two goals in the third since Game 1 of the second round in 2003 against Minnesota. They trailed 3-1 and also won that game 4-3 in overtime.

“It’s a tough ending,” Josi said. “It doesn’t happen too often, but that’s hockey.”

OUCH

Josi, who tied retired goalie Pekka Rinne with his 89th career playoff game for most in Predators’ history, took a puck off his right ear in the first period. An official sent him off the ice for stitches. Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers took a puck in the face late in the first. Both returned in the second.

UP NEXT

The Canucks can win their first playoff series since 2020 during the pandemic and first on home ice since the 2011 Western Conference final.

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vancouver Canucks players celebrate the team's 4-3 overtime win against the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks center Elias Lindholm (23) scores a goal past Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) in overtime during Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 4-3. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist (14) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist (14) celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks with teammate left wing Filip Forsberg (9) during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger (53) hits Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) to the ice during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) lets a Vancouver Canucks goal score at the the end of the third period to tie the game during Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) blocks a shot on goal by Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland (8) during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger (53) and Nashville Predators left wing Kiefer Sherwood (44) battle for a loose puck during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with teammates during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) celebrates his game tying goal with right wing Conor Garland, right, late in the third period against the Nashville Predators during Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) and defenseman Carson Soucy (7) celebrate the team's 4-3 overtime win against the Nashville Predators in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James attended Cleveland's playoff game against the Boston Celtics on Monday night, an appearance certain to drive conversation about the superstar's future.

James, who can opt out of his contact with the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent this summer, played two stints in Cleveland. He led the Cavs to their only NBA championship in 2016 before leaving two years later.

The league's career scoring leader, James has maintained a home near his hometown of Akron. He's come back to Cleveland many times since leaving in 2018, but has not attended any Cavs games.

James arrived just as the game began and took a courtside seat along with his wife, Savannah, and agent Rich Paul.

He received a thunderous ovation when shown on the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse scoreboard during a timeout. James acknowledged the crowd and then King James mimicked putting a crown on his head.

The 39-year-old had a short postseason this year as the Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the defending champion Denver Nuggets. James made it clear following the series that was leaving his options open and had made no decisions about his next move.

James has talked in the past about playing alongside his oldest son, Bronny, who played at USC last season and recently declared for this year's draft.

On Monday, the younger James was cleared by the league's doctors to participate in the pre-draft combine in Chicago after going into cardiac arrest last summer.

James is a 20-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and champion. He was drafted No. 1 overall by Cleveland and spent seven seasons with the Cavs before signing as a free agent with Miami in 2010.

He returned to the Cavs in 2014 and led them to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances — all against Golden State.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, acknowledges the crowd during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James smiles during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a high school basketball game Dec. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. NBA teams were told Monday, May 13, 2024, that Bronny James, the son of the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, has been medically cleared to play in the league and is expected to participate in the draft combine this week, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)