Predators pounce again
Cody McLeod scored the game-winner early in the second period, and the Predators beat the St. Louis Blues, 3-1, yesterday in Nashville, Tenn., to grab a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.
Defensemen Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi also scored, and Colton Sissons added two assists. The Predators outshot St. Louis 34-23, and they now have won seven straight playoff games on home ice, including all three this postseason.
Alexander Steen scored for the Blues, who lost for the first time on the road this postseason. Jake Allen (31 saves) kept St. Louis in the game before being pulled for the extra attacker with more than four minutes remaining. Nashville’s Pekka Rinne made 22 saves. St. Louis came in undefeated on the road this postseason after winning three in Minnesota in the first round, while the Predators won both games in Nashville while sweeping Chicago.
The Predators never got the man advantage in losing Game 2 in St. Louis, and they got their first nearly midway through the first period.
Just after the power play ended, Ellis gave Nashville a 1-0 lead with his slap shot from near the blue line at 10:34 off assists from Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban. Ellis now has a point in six straight playoff games, extending his franchise record for a defenseman.
McLeod gave Nashville a 2-0 lead with his first goal of the postseason just 2:29 into the second period with a backhander past Allen. That goal came shortly after the Blues killed their third penalty of the game.
St. Louis went without a shot through nearly 13 minutes of the second period without an attempt on Rinne. Then Steen tipped in a shot by Alex Pietrangelo at 12:59 to pull St. Louis within 2-1. Nashville outshot St. Louis 18-4 in the period. Josi closed the scoring with 5:49 left to play. Ducks 6, Oilers 3 — Jakob Silfverberg scored twice to lead visiting Anaheim to the victory that cut Edmonton’s lead in the Western Conference semifinal series to 2-1.
Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and an assist, and Rickard Rakell, Chris Wagner and Ryan Kesler also scored for the Ducks, who lost the first two games at home. John Gibson stopped 24 shots.
Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the series for Edmonton. Patrick Maroon and Anton Slepychev also scored and Kris Russell had two assists. Cam Talbot finished with 22 saves.
Wagner scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the second period, firing a shot that deflected off Talbot’s arm and in.
Silfverberg knocked in a feed from Josh Manson at 4:56 of the third to make it 5-3. The Oilers challenged the play for offside, but the goal stood after a video review. Kesler swept in a rebound close to five minutes later to cap the scoring.
Elsewhere in the NHL — Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn’t have an update on forwards Patric Hornqvist and Tom Kuhnhackl, who left Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Washington Capitals with injuries. The Penguins lead the series 2-0.
If either forward can’t play, Scott Wilson figures to be back in after coming out Saturday for the return of Carl Hagelin. Carter Rowney would figure to be next on the list.