Canucks advance to 2nd round, beating Predators 1-0 in Game 6 on Pius Suter's late goal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet told Pius Suter to keep shooting. Suter did just that, and it paid off.

Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.

“If you keep going to those spots, it’ll happen, and it happened for Suits and big game- winning goal for us,” Tocchet said about the forward who had three of his five shots in the third.

Nashville had a final chance to force overtime with a power play with 33.9 seconds left after Elias Lindholm was called for cross-checking Gustav Nyquist. Even with goalie Juuse Saros pulled for an extra attacker, the Predators couldn't beat rookie goalie Arturs Silovs before time expired.

The final four games in this series were decided by one goal. First-year Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said this might've been the tightest series he can remember being in. Replaying the final 33 seconds, the Jack Adams finalist said he could see opportunities his Predators missed.

“You’re going to get in one of these games, and hockey’s cruel sometimes,” Brunette said.

Silovs made 28 saves to become the 14th rookie goalie in NHL history to finish off a series with a shutout and just the fifth in 30 years. He joined Akira Schmid (2023), Matt Murray (2017 against Nashville in the Stanley Cup Final winner), Carey Price (2008) and Ilya Bryzgalov (2006) in that select group.

“He stepped in and what a crazy scenario he’s been thrown into,” Canucks forward J.T. Miller said about Silovs. “He made the saves when he needed to in such a big and crazy environment. We’re happy for him."

Vancouver will play Edmonton. The Oilers finished second behind the Canucks in the Pacific Division and beat the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.

“I have thought about it for more than two seconds to be honest with you,” Miller said about facing the Oilers.

The Canucks continued the streak started in Game 2 of the road team winning each of the final five games. They won their first playoff series outside the pandemic bubble since 2011 when Vancouver reached the Stanley Cup Final, a run that included a Game 6 win over the Preds in Nashville.

The Predators have lost six straight playoff games on home ice, taking some of the luster off the franchise's reputation as Smashville. They haven't won a postseason series since 2018 after winning the Presidents' Trophy a season after Nashville's unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2017.

Suter scored only his second of the series from in front off a pass from Brock Boeser, beating Saros who also made 28 saves in a game that seemed headed for overtime.

“I was trying to take away a little bit of the pass option, and I quite couldn’t reach with my stick,” Saros said. “And then after that you just try to go and reach with your pad, but, you know, small margin there.”

Vancouver had its most shots in a game this series after being held to a combined 92 shots through the first five games. That was the second-fewest in a playoff series through five games since 1960 trailing only Washington (90) in the 1998 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Silovs got into the mix when Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko was declared week-to-week with an injury after winning Game 1. Casey DeSmith started Games 2 and 3 before his own injury, then Silovs made his postseason debut, winning Game 4 for a 3-1 lead.

“I just embraced the challenge,” Silovs said. “I knew I had already had played on big stages before. I was already familiar with what would happen, what kind of games they were going to be. It was a great opportunity for me to play for the big club and seize the opportunity."

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

Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) is congratulated after his goal by teammates during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) and goaltender Juuse Saros (74) block a shot on goal as Vancouver Canucks center Dakota Joshua (81) leaps over the puck during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Gustav Nyquist (14) skates of the ice after the team's 1-0 loss against the Vancouver Canucks during in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) congratulates center Pius Suter (24) after his goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0 winning the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with teammates during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1- 0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

The Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks shake hands after Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0 winning the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) passes the puck past Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) tries to get the puck past Vancouver Canucks center Sam Lafferty (18) during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski (17) tries to get the puck past Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) skates the puck past Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ian Cole (82) passes the puck away from Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski, left, during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) pulls Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski, left, down to the ice during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators left wing Jason Zucker (16) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Skenes struck out 11 over six no-hit innings in his second major league start, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 9-3 on Friday.

Skenes allowed just one baserunner — Michael Busch on a full-count, fifth-inning walk on the eighth pitch of the plate appearance — in an utterly dominant performance. After pitching through some nerves in his big league debut against the Cubs last weekend, he looked quite comfortable on a picturesque day at Wrigley Field.

Skenes (1-0), who turns 22 on May 29, struck out his first seven batters, including the side in the first on pitches of at least 100 mph. He struck out Mike Tauchman on a 100 mph fastball on his 100th and final pitch — his 12th to reach triple digits.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft became the third rookie with seven strikeouts to start a game, joining Jacob deGrom on Sept. 15, 2014, and Jim Deshaies on Sept. 23, 1986. He also became the first rookie with an outing of at least six no-hit innings and 10-plus strikeouts since Chris Heston threw a no-hitter for San Francisco against the New York Mets on June 9, 2015.

Andrew McCutchen and Jared Triolo homered for Pittsburgh, which held on for a 5-4 victory in the opener of the four-game series on Thursday night. Triolo and Yasmani Grandal each had two hits and three RBIs.

RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 3

TORONTO (AP) — Tyler Alexander took a perfect game bid into the eighth inning before Danny Jansen blooped an opposite-field, one-out single, and Tampa Bay hung on to beat Toronto.

Richie Palacios hit a two-run home run as the Rays built a 4-0 lead and hung on for their 10th win in 14 games.

Alexander (2-2) retired his first 22 batters before Jansen hit a 1-0 changeup near the low, outside corner off the end of his bat. The ball landed cleanly 206 feet from the plate, between right fielder Josh Lowe and Palacios at second.

The single came on Alexander’s 97th pitch. Davis Schneider homered two pitches later, cutting Toronto’s deficit to 4-2, and Daulton Varsho singled on Alexander’s 105th and final pitch, three more than Alexander’s previous career high.

Manuel Rodríguez replaced Alexander (2-2) and pinch hitter Daniel Vogelbach reached on a fielder’s choice, with Varsho advancing to third on Díaz’s errant throw.

Pinch-hitter Cavan Biggio pulled Toronto within a run with an RBI single off Manuel Rodríguez, and George Springer grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Pete Fairbanks pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in five chances.

PHILLIES 4, NATIONALS 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out six over 7 1/3 innings and Philadelphia continued their scorching start with a victory over Washington.

The Phillies needed just 2 hours, 15 minutes in front of another jam-packed crowd of 44,507 to improve to 32-14, the best record in baseball.

Wheeler (5-3) received a rousing standing ovation when he was lifted with one out in the eighth inning. He allowed two runs and threw 104 pitches to win his fifth straight decision. Wheeler improbably went 0-3 over his first four starts — and the Phillies lost all four games — before he resumed his spot as one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The right-hander has been outshined at times this season by lefty Ranger Suárez and his 8-0 record, but there’s still no other pitcher the Phillies want on the bump for a big game.

Wheeler had his seventh quality start of the season and his 71st with the Phillies. He is tied with Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the most quality starts in the major leagues since 2020. Wheeler has a 1.62 ERA with 525 strikeouts in 477 2/3 innings over that span.

ORIOLES 9, MARINERS 2

BALTIMORE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson’s fourth leadoff homer of the season sparked a five-run first inning that backed an effective pitching performance by John Means and carried Baltimore past Seattle.

After Henderson’s 13th home run — tied for the major league lead — Baltimore’s next five batters reached base against Bryce Miller (3-4). A throwing error by shortstop Dylan Moore let in a run and Colton Cowser followed a walk with a two-run double down the right-field line.

The first out was a sacrifice fly by Jordan Westburg that capped the outburst.

In his previous start against Seattle, Means threw a no-hitter on May 5, 2021. In this one, Moore doubled on the first pitch of the game and scored on a single by Mitch Garver.

But Means (2-0) settled down in his third start since opening the season on the injured list with a left forearm strain. The left-hander allowed two runs and six hits, walked none and struck out four over six innings.

By winning the opener of the three-game set, the Orioles are assured of completing their 106th consecutive regular-season series without being swept. That’s the third-longest streak in major league history, behind only the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124) and 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115).

MARLINS 8, METS 0

MIAMI (AP) — Jesús Luzardo and three relievers combined on Miami’s third consecutive shutout, a win over New York.

Miami pitchers extended their scoreless innings streak to 28, three short of the franchise record in April 2004.

Luzardo (1-3) scattered five hits and struck out seven over six innings, ending an 0-4 skid over eight starts since beating Milwaukee on Sept. 17. Anthony Bender, Burch Smith and Anthony Maldonado followed with an inning each.

New York dropped to 20-24, losing for the sixth time in eight games and falling four games under .500 for the first time since a 1-5 start. The Mets have been shut out five times.

Nick Fortes homered and had two singles while Josh Bell doubled and singled for the Marlins, who won their second series opener this season.

GUARDIANS 3, TWINS 2

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez homered with two outs in the eighth inning, sending Cleveland to a win over Minnesota in a game featuring the first infield shift violation this season.

Ramírez connected for his 10th homer on a 2-1 pitch from Jhoan Duran (0-1), driving it into the seats in right field to delight a Progressive Field crowd that came out to see Cleveland’s new uniforms and fireworks.

It was the 226th career homer for Ramírez, moving him into a tie for fourth in club history with Hall of Famer Earl Averill. Only Jim Thome (337), Albert Belle (242) and Manny Ramirez (236) have more.

Ramírez’s homer also came after the Twins won a video challenge to wipe out a stolen base at second.

Tim Herrin (2-0), who allowed the Twins to tie it in the eighth, got the win. Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his 13th save.

Guardians starter Triston McKenzie allowed just two hits — one a homer — in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander also got three double plays and a nice diving catch by center fielder Tyler Freeman to start the game.

YANKEES 4, WHITE SOX 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered, Nestor Cortes won for the first time in 5 1/2 weeks and New York beat Chicago for their fifth straight victory.

Alex Verdugo and Stanton hit consecutive RBI doubles off starter Mike Clevinger (0-2) in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. New York equaled its longest winning streak this season and has won 11 of 13 overall, moving 16 games above .500 for the first time since finishing 99-63 in 2022.

Caleb Ferguson pitched out of an eighth-inning jam to preserve a two-run lead and Clay Holmes worked a hitless ninth for his AL-best 13th save. The closer has not allowed an earned run in 19 appearances this year.

Andrew Vaughn had two RBI singles and leadoff batter Tommy Pham finished with three hits for the White Sox (14-31) in a matchup between the top and bottom teams in the American League.

With a runner on, Pham took a called third strike to end it. Chicago had won two in a row and six of eight.

PADRES 3, BRAVES 1

ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Waldron struck out a career-high 10 and San Diego bounced back after being swept in their last series with a win over Atlanta.

Waldron (2-5) gave up one run, five hits and walked two in 5 2/3 innings.

Jurickson Profar was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored and Jake Cronenworth was 3 for 5 with an RBI for the Padres, who totaled 13 hits (all singles).

Max Fried (3-2), who was coming off a six-inning, no-hit performance against the Mets, was touched for nine hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two in 88 pitches.

Jeremiah Estrada recorded his first save of the season with a perfect, three-strikeout ninth after the Padres used closer Robert Suarez in the eighth against the heart of the Braves order. The Braves struck out a season-high 18 times.

The Braves threatened in the eighth after a Chadwick Tromp double put runners at second and third with two outs. Suarez struck out Michael Harris II to end the threat.

ROYALS 6, ATHLETICS 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Cole Ragans allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings, Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia homered and Kansas City beat Oakland to extend their losing streak to a season-high six.

Ragans (3-3) walked two and struck out seven, rebounding from a 9-3 loss at the Los Angeles Angels when he allowed seven runs and eight hits. He has three scoreless starts of at least six innings this season.

Chris Stratton and Matt Sauers finished the four-hitter, the ninth time Oakland has been held to four hits or fewer.

Oakland has been outscored 36-6 during its losing streak, which dropped the A’s to 19-28.

Kansas City went ahead in the first when Salvador Perez hit a two-out, run-scoring infield single. Perez was called out by first base umpire Ryan Additon, but a video review ruled Perez beat the throw from third baseman Brett Harris.

Massey hit a two-run homer off Austin Adams and Maikel Garcia a three-run drive against Brandon Bielak in a five-run sixth.

ASTROS 5, BREWERS 4

HOUSTON (AP) — Jake Meyers hit a two-run homer and Jeremy Peña’s three-run shot in the fifth inning gave Houston a victory over Milwaukee to extend their season-long winning streak to six games.

Houston trailed by 2 when Victor Caratini singled to start the fifth, Jose Altuve singled on an infield grounder and Peña sent a slider from Freddy Peralta into the left-field seats for a 5-4 lead.

Hunter Brown (1-4) yielded four runs and four hits while walking three in five innings for his first win since Sept. 13. He had been 0-6 in his last nine starts.

Milwaukee had runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh, but Rafael Montero struck out William Contreras to end the threat.

The Brewers had two on with two outs again in the eighth but came up empty when Bryan Abreu struck out Sal Frelick.

ANGLES 9, RANGERS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Zach Neto and Taylor Ward homered, Tyler Anderson pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and Los Angeles beat Texas to give Ron Washington a victory in his first game as a visiting manager in Texas.

Neto snapped a 1-all tie and put the Angels ahead to stay with his two-run homer in the fourth, a 405-foot drive to right field for his fifth of the season.

Anderson (4-4) struck out four and walked two.

Washington is the winningest manager in Rangers’ history with his 664 wins from 2007-14, and took them to their first two World Series in 2010 and 2011. He is in the first season with the Angels (17-28), his first managerial job since Texas.

Jonah Heim and Marcus Semien went deep for Texas, which has lost seven of its last nine games.

CARDINALS 10, RED SOX 6

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn hit two-run homers, and St. Louis beat Boston to drop them below .500 for the first time since the season’s opening week.

Nolan Arenado had three hits that included an RBI single in the eighth after entering in a 3-for-27 slide.

Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson also went deep for the Cardinals, who matched season highs for runs, hits (14) and homers.

Winn’s two-run homer off Cam Booser was the first home run of Winn’s big league career.

Boston has lost three straight and 10 of 14, falling to 22-23. The Red Sox had not been under .500 since a 1-2 start.

Kyle Gibson (3-2) allowed five runs, eight hits and three walks in six-plus innings as the Cardinals won for the fourth time in five games.

TIGERS 13, DIAMONDBACKS 0

PHOENIX (AP) — Javier Báez broke out of a season-long slump with five RBIs, Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Detroit pounded Arizona.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch insisted he was going to keep sending Báez out despite the shortstop’s meager .167 batting average. Báez rewarded him with a 3-for-4 night that included a pair of two-run doubles and a run-scoring single.

He wasn’t alone in Detroit’s hit fest.

Coming off consecutive shutouts against Florida, the Tigers roughed up Rhyne Nelson (2-3) with three runs in the third inning and added six more in the fifth while chasing the Arizona right-hander. Detroit had 11 runs by the fifth inning and finished with a season-high 17 hits — seven for extra bases, but no homers.

Kerry Carpenter had four RBIs and Colt Keith went 4 for 5 with two RBIs. Wenceel Pérez and Riley Greene also had run-scoring hits.

That was more than enough for Skubal (6-0), who took a perfect game into the fifth inning and allowed one hit with six strikeouts in a combined three-hitter.

DODGERS 7, REDS 3

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani slugged a two-run homer and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning when Los Angeles rallied after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Cincinnati.

Earlier, the Los Angeles city council proclaimed May 17 as Shohei Ohtani Day in the city for as long as the Japanese two-way superstar plays for the Dodgers. He signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract in December.

Ohtani bounced back after being hitless in two at-bats on his first bobblehead night Thursday. The promotion snarled traffic outside Dodger Stadium and created long lines of fans clamoring for one of the 40,000 souvenirs, some of which were quickly offered for sale online at exorbitant prices.

Tied at 3, Will Smith singled in Ohtani, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to first and was safe at second on a throwing error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz. The Dodgers made it 5-3 when Freddie Freeman scored on a wild pitch by Fernando Cruz (1-5) that sailed to the backstop.

Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer in the eighth, extending the lead to 7-3.

GIANTS 10, ROCKIES 5

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thairo Estrada hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning and singled twice, Luis Matos drove in a career-high five runs and San Francisco beat Colorado for their sixth straight victory at home in the series.

Matos and Matt Chapman had three hits apiece for a refreshed San Francisco squad coming off its first off day following 16 straight games.

Estrada’s drive to left for his seventh home run of the year chased Colorado right-hander Ryan Feltner (1-4), who gave way to Victor Vodnik. Luis Matos added a key RBI single in the inning for insurance — which mattered when Ezequiel Tovar doubled home a run in the top of the sixth before the Giants added on late.

Matos, who got the Giants going on an RBI double in the fourth, then added an RBI groundout on a bunt in the seventh before Marco Luciano singled two batters later for his first career RBI. Matos capped his outstanding night with a two-run double in the eighth.

This was an especially tough day for the Giants, who learned earlier in the day that rookie center fielder Jung Hoo Lee needs season-ending surgery on his dislocated left shoulder that he injured crashing into the outfield wall.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes is doused by Martín Pérez during a television interview after the team's win over the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game Friday, May 17, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)