Click here to watch video from last night’s game

The Nashville Predators convincingly beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at the Sommet Center Tuesday night.  The loss marks the first for Vancouver in Nashville since Novemeber 23, 2006.

The game marked the last Western Conference team to play a game against the Predators this season. It also marks the first time the Predators were able to beat a team from Western Canada this year.

But the game was special not only for the achievements of the Preds as a team, but for one player in particular. Martin Erat recorded his second professional career hat trick. Erat also assisted on the one goal he didn’t score for the Preds.

Erat opened the scoring 4 minutes into the game. The game remained scoreless until Erat added a power play tally 3 minutes into the second.  The Canucks came within one goal of tying the game when Ryan Kesler scored at the tail end of a 5-3 power play advantage for Vancouver.

Jerred Smithson was serving a 5 minute major for charging Alex Burrows.  The penalty was servived by Ryan Jones because Smithson also got a game misconduct. Patric Hornqvist was also in the box for holding the stick.

Hornqvist recovered nicely adding Nashville’s second power play goal of the night on a feed from captain Jason Arnott and, of course, Marty Erat.

Vancouver would again pull within one when Daniel Sedin scored with less than 4 minutes to play in regulation but the Canucks would not pull even when Roberto Luongo went to the ice for the extra skater.

Erat scored his third of the game, and 9th of the season, into the empty net to secure the Nashville victory.

Predators goalie Pekka Rinne made 34 saves. It was his 12th win of the season.

Game notes:

Rinne made some incredible saves tonight. The Predators were out shot 36-26.

Nashville is now 13-1 when scoring a power-play goal this season.

One game after being the healthy scratch, Patric Hornqvist scored a power play goal. Interesting, because Coach Trotz stated to Tennessean Predators reporter John Glennen that he felt Hornqvist “was back” just from watching him at practice.  After only playing 5 minutes a game for the last several before getting scratched, Hornqvist played 13 minutes against the Canucks.

Erat had 3 goals on 5 shots. Wow.

Alexander Sulzer played and Cody Franson sat out. Sulzer had a little under 11 minutes of ice time.

Next up for the Predators: The Predators play at home again on Thursday against divisional rival the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Blue Jackets have lost two straight games. They play tomorrow night so when they face the Predators on Thursday, they might be a bit tired.

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