Predators skate right into a new territory

Ryan Johansen celebrated his game-winning goal with a windmill fist pump, and the Nashville Predators finished off the rest of a thrilling third period with the standingroom-only home crowd on their feet anticipating history.

Yes, the team that plays in a place called “Smashville” is going someplace the Predators have never been before: The Western Conference final.

Johansen scored 3:15 into the third, and the Predators advanced to the conference finals in their fourth try by beating the St. Louis Blues, 3-1, to take the series in six games.

“It’s a big step for the franchise,” Predators defenseman Roman Josi said. “This is such a great city, such a great hockey city, I think people finally recognize that. Our fans are unbelievable.”

The Predators won their ninth straight playoff game in Nashville going back to last postseason.

Goalie Pekka Rinne made 23 saves and had an assist. Josi had a goal and an assist, and Calle Jarnkrok added an empty-netter with 60 seconds left.

The Predators and Blues were tied through the first 40 minutes for a third straight game and fourth overall in this series when Johansen skated up the slot for a pass from Viktor Arvidsson and beat Blues goalie Jake Allen with a backhand.

Allen kept the Blues close as he had all series, stopping Filip Forsberg on a breakaway with 13:31 left. But Jarnkrok scored with a minute to go to clinch it, amping up Nashville’s celebration.

This was a painful loss for St. Louis. Allen ranked just behind Rinne among stingy goalies this postseason, and the Blues had been the NHL’s best team after coach Mike Yeo replaced Ken Hitchcock on Feb. 1. They had been 121-1 on the road, including three wins in Minnesota in taking the first round.

St. Louis took the first seven shots and went up, 1-0, on Stastny’s goal, a wrister just 2:04 into the game off assists from Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz.

It was the first evenstrength goal the Predators had allowed in the first period this postseason. It also was only the third goal St. Louis scored in three games in Nashville.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Arvidsson said of Rinne.

The Predators needed only 35 seconds into the second to tie it up. Mattias Ekholm found Josi all alone in the right circle for a quick shot past Allen’s glove. That gave Nashville defensemen nine goals this postseason, a franchise record.

Oilers 7, Ducks 1: Leon Draisaitl had three goals and two assists, Mark Letestu added two goals and two assists, and host Edmonton cruised to an easy victory, forcing a decisive Game 7 in their Western Conference semifinal series Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Zach Kassian and Anton Slepychev also scored and Cam Talbot stopped 34 shots for the host Oilers, who led, 5-0, after the first period.

Rickard Rakell scored midway through the second period for Anaheim. John Gibson was pulled after giving up three goals on six shots less than 81⁄2 minutes into the game. Jonathan Bernier came on and finished with 25 saves.

Slepychev extended the Oilers’ lead to 6-0 in the opening minute of the second period.