NASHVILLE, May 5 (UPI) -- Ryan Kesler put Vancouver in front for good 7:28 into the third period Thursday and the Canucks took control of the series with a 4-2 win over Nashville.
Vancouver, which finished the regular season with the best record in the NHL, opened a 3-1 advantage in the Western Conference semifinals. The Canucks, who won two in a row on Nashville's home ice, can close out the Predators in Vancouver Saturday.
Nashville twice overcame a one-goal deficit and tied the game for a second time on a slap shot from Cody Franson 3:27 into the third.
Ryan Suter was then sent to the penalty box at the 6:21 mark of the third for holding and Vancouver took advantage to score the decisive goal. Kesler's slap shot eluded Pekka Rinne and Henrik Sedin clinched it by scoring into an empty net with 21 seconds left.
The first three games in the closely-matched series were decided by one goal and two of the contests went into overtime.
Roberto Luongo, who struggled in Vancouver's quarterfinal series against Chicago before emerging with a Game 7 overtime win, made 19 saves.
Rinne stopped 24-of-27 shots.
The winner of this series will take on either San Jose or Detroit in the Western Conference finals. San Jose has a 3-0 lead on the Red Wings and will try to complete a series sweep Friday in Detroit.
