Last season's playoff series between the Vancouver Canucks and Nashville Predators featured great goaltending from Vezina Trophy finalists Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne. The teams will meet for the first time since then Thursday night when the Canucks try to hand the visiting Predators a fourth straight loss. Nashville (2-2-1) advanced in the playoffs for the first time last season before falling to Vancouver (2-3-1) in six games in the Western Conference semifinals. Luongo posted a 1.63 goals-against average with one shutout in the series while Rinne was at 1.94. The Predators won two of three at Rogers Arena in a tightly contested series, with five of the six games were decided by one goal. Neither team has been playing well lately, in part because both goalies are enduring problems. Rinne has faced 162 shots, tied for third most in the NHL, while Luongo's 3.70 goals-against average is the worst among West starters. The offence hasn't been much better for both clubs. Vancouver was shut out for the second time in three games Tuesday, falling 4-0 to the New York Rangers. The game was scoreless after two periods with the Canucks holding a 28-9 advantage in shots. By all indications, Luongo will get an immediate chance to rebound from that outing against the Predators. The Canucks went 0-for-8 on the power play against the Rangers, although a positive was forward Ryan Kesler making his season debut after hip surgery in July. Kesler was the star of the Nashville series with five goals and six assists. The Predators fell 3-1 to Edmonton in the opener of a three-game trip Monday. Nashville continued the disturbing trend of being outshot in every game, with the Oilers enjoying a 25-12 advantage. Sicamous, B.C., native Shea Weber called it "one of the worst losses I've ever been part of," in over six seasons on Nashville's blue-line. Nashville coach Barry Trotz told local beat reporters that forward Niclas Bergfors will draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch. The Canucks continue their homestand Saturday against division rival Minnesota.