Before the season, few expected the Vancouver Canucks or Nashville Predators to reach the playoffs, but now they are set to face each other, with the Canucks being the favorites. Vancouver emerged as a legitimate contender in the West, while the Predators have shown strength in the latter part of the season. Key stats show Vancouver's strength in shooting and save percentage, while Nashville excels in offensive performance since February. Vancouver's power play has been inconsistent, posing a vulnerability for the team, and Nashville's Juuse Saros could be a significant factor in challenging the Canucks.

• Vancouver earned approximately 55% of the expected goals share since Jan. 1.
• Nashville holds a 53.5% share of expected goals for the season.

Vancouver's power play inconsistency and dependency on the top unit could be exploited by Nashville. Juuse Saros' performance could also impact the outcome of the series.

• Vancouver has tightened up defensively, ranking second in shot attempts and expected goals against.
• Nashville has shown improvement since February, excelling in offensive performance and special teams.

Both teams are poised for a star-studded showdown in the playoffs, with the Canucks being the likely victors in what promises to be an entertaining series.

With Vancouver's power play vulnerability and Nashville's resurgence, the series outcome hinges on key players like Quinn Hughes, Juuse Saros, and the overall team depth, making it a must-watch face-off.