Predators get back to winning
The Nashville Predators finally had a chance to show how they would react to their first loss this postseason. Returning home, they put their deep scoring on display and bounced back with a victory.
Cody McLeod scored the winner early in the second period, and the Predators beat St. Louis 3-1 on Sunday to grab a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference semifinal.
“It shows a lot of character coming off a loss last game,” Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne said. “We knew that coming in it’s a huge game. Responded really well. It’s a good feeling, obviously, but you already start thinking about the next one and trying to keep this momentum going.”
Defensemen Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi also scored, and Colton Sissons added two assists. The Predators outshot St. Louis 34-23, and they are 6-1 this postseason.
Alexander Steen scored for the Blues, who lost for the first time on the road this postseason. Rinne finished with 22 saves, including a flurry of stops to preserve the win. Game 4 is Tuesday. 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 has a point in six straight playoff games, extending his franchise record for a defenseman and also leading the Predators.
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 goalie Jake Allen. McLeod became the 13th Nashville player to score this postseason.
Ducks 6, Oilers 3: Jakob Silfverberg scored twice as visiting Anaheim cut Edmonton’s lead in the West semifinal to 2-1.
Ryan Getzlaf had a goal and an assist, and Rickard Rakell, Chris Wagner and Ryan Kesler also scored for the Ducks.
Wagner scored the tiebreaking goal midway through the second period, firing a shot that deflected off goalie Cam 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 with 9½ minutes left to cap the scoring.
Game 4 is Wednesday.