Predators put Ducks on brink
ANAHEIM: Pontus Aberg delivered the game winner moments after suffering a possible concussion on Saturday, lifting the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 victory over Anaheim in Game Five of their NHL play-off series.
Aberg grabbed a rebound in front of the Anaheim goal and scored while diving headfirst across the front of the crease to break a 1-1 tie with nine minutes remaining in the third period.
Austin Watson iced the victory, firing a long shot into the Ducks’ empty net with 48 seconds remaining as the Predators took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference final.
Game Six of the series is on tomorrow morning (Thai time) in Nashville. The winners will face either Pittsburgh or Ottawa in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Sweden’s Aberg was in the Nashville line-up on Saturday in part to fill the offensive void left by the loss of leading scorer Ryan Johansen, who underwent seasonending thigh surgery after Game Four.
The Predators rolled through the first two rounds of the NHL play-offs with little adversity, so the loss of Johansen was their first major test and they passed with flying colours, taking another step towards their first Stanley Cup finals appearance.
“Things have gone pretty smoothly for us this postseason and if we want to go all the way we have to come through this,” said Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne.
Aberg, 23, had to leave the ice area as soon as he returned to the bench, heading to the locker room to get checked for a concussion due to an incident that took place during his previous shift.
He landed face first on the ice after being crosschecked from behind by Ducks forward Nick Ritchie.
The play that led to the game-winning goal started with Rinne making a series of impressive saves.
The Predators got the puck and Aberg jumped off the bench, got to the front of the net and put in a Filip Forsberg rebound.
Captain Mike Fisher also didn’t play on Saturday, leaving the Predators without their two top centres.
The Ducks’ goal was scored by Chris Wagner. Anaheim starting goaltender John Gibson left the game after the first period with an undisclosed injury and did not return.
Jonathan Bernier took the loss while stopping 16 of 18 shots. Gibson stopped all 10 shots he faced.
Rinne was solid again in making 32 saves for the Predators, who continue their magic carpet ride through the postseason.
“Going into these games I want to be a difference maker,” Rinne said. “I knew I had to be good if we wanted to win this game.
“You don’t want to have regrets when you look in mirror at the end of game. I feel pretty good right now.”
Meanwhile, Canada’s head coach Jon Cooper revealed how a locker-room joke helped his side score four unanswered points to beat Russia 4-2 and reach today’s ice hockey world championship final.
Defending champions Canada were looking down the barrel of a semi-final defeat to Russia on Saturday, trailing 2-0 down going into the third quarter.