[SuperMatt18]

This series is closer and more interesting than people are giving credit for I think...

If we look at the second half of the season these teams were tied for the 3rd best record in the Western Conference.

Vancouver: 54 Points vs Nashvile: 54 Points
Vancouver: 122 Goals For vs Nashville: 139 Goals For
Vancouver: 113 Goals Against vs Nashville: 118 Goals Against
Vancouver: 51.9% Goals For vs Nashville: 54.1% Goals For
Vancouver: 54.3% Expected Goals For vs Nashville: 53.1% Expected Goals For
Vancouver: 10.4% Shooting Percentage vs Nashville: 10.0% Shooting Percentage
Vancouver: .898 Save Percentage vs Nashville: .906 Save Percentage

That's a pretty close final 41 games...but with the disclaimer the Canucks were missing Demko. And in the end this series probably comes down to Demko vs Saros.

Which if we look at each starting goalie over each teams last 41 games...

Demko: 21 GP, .921 Sv Percentage, 9.84 GSAA
Saros: 31 GP. .913 Sv Percentage, 8.74 GSAA

And look at the total book of work over each goalies last two seasons:

Demko: 82 GP, .911 SV%, 18.4 GSAA
Saros: 128 GP, .913 SV%, 35.2 GSAA

So I don't know...with Demko recovering from injury, and with Saros finding his form after a slow start this feels like the series is much closer than a 2 vs 7 series normally would be. Nashville in 6, Lindholm and Zadorov are scapegoated by Canucks fans for providing little impact.