Cole picked up an assist and added two hits in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Predators in Game 2.
Cole snapped a five-game point drought when he set up a Nikita Zadorov tally in the second period. The 35-year-old Cole is unlikely to produce much offense in the playoffs, but he should be able to maintain a bottom-four role on the blue line. He had 11 points, 166 blocked shots, 83 hits, 61 shots on net and 61 PIM over 78 regular-season appearances.
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Canucks' Phil Di Giuseppe: Offers helper in loss
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Di Giuseppe registered an assist and six hits in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Predators in Game 2.
Di Giuseppe didn't play much down the stretch, but he's been in the lineup over Vasily Podkolzin and Nils Aman through two playoff contests. In 51 regular-season outings, Di Giuseppe registered 10 points, 52 shots on net, 36 PIM and 94 hits. He'll likely stay in a bottom-six role during the postseason, if he's able to maintain his place in the lineup.
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Canucks' Nikita Zadorov: Nets lone goal in Game 2 loss
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Zadorov scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged four hits in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Predators in Game 2.
Zadorov had gone 12 games without a goal, picking up three assists in that span. The 29-year-old defenseman got the Canucks on the board in the second period, but they couldn't form a comeback. He's earned two points five shots on net, nine hits and three blocked shots over two playoff contests while playing in a bottom-four role.
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Canucks' Casey DeSmith: Takes loss Tuesday
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DeSmith allowed three goals on 15 shots in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Predators in Game 2. The fourth goal was an empty-netter.
Thatcher Demko (undisclosed) is out of action, so it's DeSmith's turn in the crease for the Canucks. His first outing was poor -- the Predators were opportunistic with their chances early on and successfully bunkered down in the third period to hold the lead. DeSmith was mediocre in the regular season with a 12-9-6 record, a 2.89 GAA and an .895 save percentage over 29 appearances. He'll need more help from the team in front of him as the series shifts to Nashville for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday.
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Canucks' Nikita Tolopilo: Brought up as emergency recall
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Tolopilo was called up from AHL Abbotsford on Tuesday, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports.
Tolopilo went 20-13-1 with a 2.83 GAA and a .905 save percentage over 35 outings for Abbotsford this season. He'll serve as the No. 3 goalie for the Canucks while Thatcher Demko (undisclosed) is out.
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Canucks' Tyler Myers: Out of action Tuesday
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Myers (undisclosed) won't play in Tuesday's Game 2 versus the Predators, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 reports.
Myers has had success in a top-four role this season, so it's notable he's out of the lineup for this contest. The Canucks have not specified a reason for his absence. Noah Juulsen will draw into the lineup for Myers, who will aim to return Friday for Game 3.
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Canucks' Casey DeSmith: Tending twine in Game 2
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DeSmith will patrol the home crease Tuesday in Game 2 against Nashville, according to Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650.
DeSmith will get the nod after Thatcher Demko (undisclosed) was injured following Sunday's series-opening victory over the Predators. DeSmith filled in admirably as the Canucks' No. 1 netminder during the regular season when Demko was out due to a knee injury. The 32-year-old DeSmith posted a 12-9-6 record with a 2.89 GAA and an .895 save percentage in 29 appearances. He also stopped 26 shots in a 5-2 win over Nashville on Dec. 19.
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Canucks' Thatcher Demko: Out Tuesday, considered day-to-day
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Demko is considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and won't play in Tuesday's Game 2 versus the Predators, Canucks rinkside reporter Kate Pettersen reports.
Demko was solid in Sunday's Game 1, stopping 20 of 22 shots en route to a 4-2 win over Nashville. The good news is Demko's undisclosed injury isn't related to the knee issue that kept him out from March 13-April 13. The bad news is the Canucks will be without their No. 1 netminder for at least one playoff contest and potentially more. Casey DeSmith will take over for Vancouver between the pipes until Demko is ready to return.
Canucks' Nikita Zadorov: Supplies helper in Game 1 win
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Zadorov logged an assist, three shots on goal and five hits in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Zadorov has three helpers over nine outings in April, and he's added 26 hits and 25 PIM. The 29-year-old should have no trouble staying in the lineup, but his offense is likely to be limited given his bottom-four role. Zadorov had 20 points, 90 shots on net, 175 hits, 68 blocked shots and 125 PIM over 75 appearances between the Canucks and the Flames in the regular season.
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Canucks' Teddy Blueger: Pockets helper in win
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Blueger generated an assist and added two PIM in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Blueger set up Dakota Joshua's empty-netter to help secure the comeback win. Blueger matched his career high with 28 points over 68 appearances this season, playing mainly in a bottom-six role. The 29-year-old center added 97 shots on net, 98 hits and a plus-4 rating. He's mostly in the lineup for his defensive work, but Blueger can chip in his fair share of supporting offense as well.
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Canucks' Filip Hronek: Contributes assist in win
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Hronek notched an assist, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Hronek ended the regular season on a four-game slump before resting for the finale. The 26-year-old defenseman had a career-high 48 points over 81 appearances, but just 19 of those points came over his last 45 outings as his offense faded a bit in the second half. He's still been a solid partner for captain Quinn Hughes on the top pairing, so Hronek's ice time should be steady in the playoffs.
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Canucks' Conor Garland: Posts helper in Game 1 win
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Garland logged an assist, two shots on goal and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Garland has points in six straight games (four goals, four assists) dating back to April 8. The winger set up Dakota Joshua's go-ahead tally midway through the third period. Garland had 47 points, 200 shots on net and a plus-19 rating over 82 regular-season contests as he continues to prove himself a reliable depth winger. He should see third-line usage and power-play time to begin the postseason, though he'd be in line to move up to a top-six job if another forward gets injured.
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Canucks' Brock Boeser: Adds helper
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Boser recorded an assist in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Boeser was reportedly dealing with an undisclosed injury late in the regular season, but it was minor enough to avoid costing him a playoff game. The winger had a career year with 40 goals, 73 points, 204 shots on net and a plus-23 rating over 81 appearances. Boeser will likely maintain a top-six role throughout the Canucks' postseason run.
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Canucks' J.T. Miller: Contributes helper in win
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Miller notched an assist, four hits and a plus-2 rating in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Miller posted four goals and 10 assists during an 11-game point streak before resting for the Canucks' regular-season finale. He kept the hot run going with a helper on Dakota Joshua's empty-netter with 1:28 left Sunday. Miller led the Canucks with 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists) in 81 appearances this season while adding 194 shots on net, 217 hits and a plus-32 rating. The 31-year-old will be leaned on to add a little of everything during the postseason.
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Canucks' Elias Lindholm: Lights lamp Sunday
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Lindholm scored a goal, added five hits and went plus-2 in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Lindholm has two goals and two assists during his four-game point streak. The center has struggled as a Canuck following his trade from the Flames, but he'll still see more all-situations ice time than his third-line role would suggest. Lindholm had 15 goals, 44 points, 173 shots on net, 87 hits, 61 blocked shots and a minus-14 rating over 75 regular-season appearances.
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Canucks' Quinn Hughes: Deposits game-tying goal
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Hughes scored a goal on three shots and went plus-2 in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Hughes posted five goals and 17 assists over the final 20 games of the regular season, and he didn't slow down to begin the playoffs. The defenseman's third-period tally tied the game at 2-2, and Dakota Joshua scored 12 seconds later to put the Canucks ahead for good. Hughes took his game to new heights with 17 tallies, 92 points, 199 shots on net and a plus-38 rating over 82 regular-season contests. As captain, he'll be looking to lead from the blue line with the Canucks having home-ice advantage for the first two rounds.
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Canucks' Dakota Joshua: Pops off for three points
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Joshua scored twice, dished an assist, went plus-3 and doled out six hits in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Predators in Game 1.
Joshua was the only player on either team to have multiple points in the series opener. The winger had six multi-point efforts during the regular season, which saw him rack up a career-best 32 points (18 goals, 14 assists), 84 shots on net, 245 hits and 60 PIM over 63 appearances. Joshua remains in a third-line role, but his hard-nosed playing style should be well-suited to the first-round matchup with Nashville and the playoffs as a whole.
