Sedin twins have goal, two assists each as Canucks beat Predators 4-1

The Predators lost for only the second time in eight games as their suddenly potent offence dried up. The Canucks outshot the Predators 36-21.

Vancouver scored on one of three power play chances while Nashville was blanked on two.

"(The Sedins) broke their one-game slump there, and then they're right back at it," said Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault.

After a scoreless first period, the Canucks dominated the second, built a 2-0 lead following 40 minutes, and never looked back.

"We know we played good (in the first), and we played a solid period, but also we know that our second period (historically) wasn't good for us," Henrik Sedin said.

"Throughout the whole season, we haven't played good in the second period. I don't know why. It's something to figure out, but we didn't give up anything in the second period. We were on them the whole second period. So it was good."

The scoreless opening session marked the first time in 14 periods that the Predators failed to score. Nashville's consecutive-period scoring run was the longest in the NHL this season.

No other team had scored in 14 straight periods since Buffalo pulled off the feat at this time last year. Buffalo's streak ended on Dec. 22, 2008.

"We weren't the team we pride ourselves on," said Nashville winger Steve Sullivan. "We wanted more than that and to be better than that. They schooled us in a lot of areas. They played exactly how we enjoy playing."

The Sedin twins especially.

"We gave them too many power-play opportunities," said Sullivan. "We know how good they are on the power play. We just weren't ourselves. There's just no other excuse."

The Predators did show early jump, forcing Luongo to make some tough saves. The Canucks eventually outshot the Predators 14-6 in the first period but could not beat Nashville goaltender Ellis.

"Obviously, we spoke about (the lack of goals) in the first intermission," said Luongo. "We wanted to make sure that we kept playing the way we did in the first, and we didn't have a problem with that."

After Bernier opened the scoring 6:39 into the second period, Daniel Sedin scored the winner on a give-and-go with Henrik during a power play. The goal came after Nashville's Dave Scatchard, who failed an injury-marred pre-season tryout with the Canucks, was penalized for goaltender interference.

"They had a higher compete level than us, more urgency, harder on the puck, they were more determined. That to me was the bottom line," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said.

Salo put the Canucks ahead 3-0 about seven minutes into the third as he one-timed Henrik Sedin's pass. The point shot went in off Nashville defenceman Dan Hamhuis. Henrik Sedin gave the Canucks a 4-0 advantage as he put in Daniel's pass from behind the net at 9:31 of the third.

"We deserved to win this game," said Vigneault. "It's unfortunate that we lost the shutout at the end of the game there. But, overall, our team was real good. They were focused. Even though we are going on a three-day (Christmas break), they did what they had to do."

Hornqvist spoiled Luongo's shutout bid with 5:24 left in the game on a backhand following a deke on a two-on-none.

The Vancouver goaltender banged his stick against the net in dejection afterwards.

"When you get down to the last couple of minutes and you have four goals it's a little disappointing," said Luongo. "But at the end of the day we got the two points and that's all that matters."

(Edit:Ruby)