The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet won't deny being one of the NHL's final eight teams still alive means a lot.

An all-Canadian showdown against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round?

Even better.

“We know the next series will be tough," Tocchet said Friday night after his Canucks advanced by downing Nashville 1-0 in Game 6.

The Jack Adams finalist for NHL coach of the year took the Canucks from a team that missed the postseason a year ago by finishing 11th in the Western Conference to placing third in the West this season. They won the Pacific Division with 109 points, winning all four games with Edmonton.

The Canucks survived a low-shooting series with Nashville, with each of the final four games decided by one goal.

Pius Suter ended a scoreless tie with his second goal this postseason with 1:39 left for the latest winning goal in a Canucks' series-clinching game. That topped Daniel Sedin's goal with 2:03 left in Game 6 of the 2010 conference quarterfinal.

Even then, the Canucks had to kill a penalty in the final 33.9 seconds as Nashville pulled goalie Juuse Saros for an extra attacker.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, a Norris Trophy finalist, said it's a great feeling.

Vancouver had not won a playoff series outside the pandemic bubble in 2020 since their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011. The Canucks also clinched a series against the Predators in Game 6 in Nashville during that run.

“We stuck to what we wanted to do the whole game," Hughes said. "We didn’t crack. I thought we played really good team defense. I thought (rookie goalie Arturs Silovs) played amazing. We knew we were going to have our looks. Brock made a great play, Pius great finish.”

The Canucks now are in the second round after missing the postseason a year ago for the fifth time in franchise history. They also advanced in 2020, 2009, 2007 and 1974.

This will be their first postseason series against the Oilers since 1992, and Edmonton won that second-round series in six games. The Oilers have been resting since ousting the Los Angeles Kings in five games on Wednesday night.

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

Tocchet will have to decide which goaltender to start. Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko has started skating from an injury that sidelined him after a Game 1 win, and Casey DeSmith has been healthy enough to back up Silovs the past two games.

All three goalies won at least one game in the first round, just the seventh time in NHL history a team won a playoff series where at least three different goalies started a game and the third in 50 years. Philadelphia did it in 2011, and Detroit did it in 1988.

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. At 23 years and 42 days, Silovs also became the youngest goalie in team history with a playoff shutout. Demko had been the only other goalie to do that before turning 25.

“For him to step in as a young kid like that, step into playoff games, big games and play the way he did, it was awesome,” defenseman Tyler Myers said of Silovs. “It was great to see.”

Vancouver will have to produce more offense after having a combined 92 shots through the first five games. That was the fewest to start a playoff series through five games since 1960, second only Washington who had 90 in the 1998 Eastern Conference semifinals.

“Hopefully, some of those goals will go in for us in the next series,” Tocchet said.

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

An ice worker skates off the ice with a pair of catfish before the start of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series between the Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks, 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)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) and Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) get into a scuffle 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 goaltender Juuse Saros (74) catches a puck against the Vancouver Canucks 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)

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)

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 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 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)

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)

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)

Vancouver Canucks players celebrate the team's 1-0 win against the Nashville Predators 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)

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)

The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville

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)

The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lars Nootbaar and Masyn Winn hit two-run homers, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Boston 10-6 on Friday night to drop the Red Sox 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.

“I think today we were just locked in on just competing and we were in it,” Arenado said.

Nolan Gorman and Alec Burleson also went deep for the Cardinals, who matched season highs for runs, hits (14) and homers. St. Louis has had at least 10 hits in five of its last six games.

“A lot of good at-bats tonight from everybody, you know, and stringing them together as well,” Burleson said. “Just, you know, singled them to death when we needed to and then, you know, had a couple of long balls mixed in there too. So, a lot of fun to watch when we’re clicking.”

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

“He came up to me right before that at bat, he said I’m going to be taking some big swings,” Nootbaar said. “And I was like, do it, dude, why not?”

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.

Brayan Bello (4-2) gave up a season-high five runs in a season-low 4 2/3 innings. Pitching on his 25th birthday, he tied a career-worst by allowing three homers.

“It was a bad outing,” Bello said through an interpreter. “The team did everything possible to score some runs, to get me some run support, but I wasn’t able to make the adjustment tonight.”

Nootbaar put the Cardinals ahead when he drove a changeup 430 feet over the center-field wall for his third home run in 10 days.

“Hitting’s contagious and you have handful of guys that have some knocks and all of a sudden you feel a little bit better about yourself and have more confidence,” Nootbaar said.

David Hamilton’s two-run triple tied the score in the second. Tyler O’Neill scored on the hit and received a standing ovation in his return to St. Louis, his team from 2018-23.

Gorman homered in the second and Rafael Devers tied the score 3-3 with a 443-foot drive in the third — he is 9 for 20 against Gibson with three extra-base hits.

“We were what, 3 for 12 with runners in scoring position?” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “But the at-bats are getting better, which is, you know, a positive.”

Burleson homered leading off the fourth and Paul Goldschmidt hit an RBI single for a 5-3 lead in the fifth.

“Today was fun, man,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Up and down the lineup, not a whole lot of breathing room. Extra-base hits, homers, some key hits when they were needed from just about everybody. So, offense looked really really good today.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock (left oblique strain) experienced soreness in his right elbow following a rehab start and has been shut down. Whitlock, who threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, returned to Boston and will undergo imaging tests over the weekend.

Cardinals: C Willson Contreras (left forearm fracture) had his cast removed and still hopes to return around the All-Star break. … RHP Giovanny Gallegos (right shoulder impingement) threw a bullpen session.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals will start RHP Miles Mikolas (3-5, 6.19 ERA) against RHP Kutter Crawford (2-2, 2.24 ERA) and the Red Sox on Saturday night. Mikolas allowed just one run in six innings in his lone career start last year against Boston. Crawford gave up four runs in four innings in his only career start against St. Louis in 2022.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt fields a ground ball hit by Boston Red Sox's Dominic Smith in the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson, right, is congratulated by teammate Ivan Herrera (48) after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Boston Red Sox's center fielder Jarren Duran jumps at the wall but is unable to catch a home-run hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' shortstop Masyn Winn (0) is congratulated by teammate Ivan Herrera (48) after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt hits an RBI single in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

Boston Red Sox first baseman Dominic Smith catches a foul ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Brendan Donovan in the sixth inning of a baseball, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher John King throws in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Lars Nootbaar (21), center, and teammates celebrate after their victory in a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, May 17, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz)