Predators hold on to take 3-1 lead over Avalanche
Filip Forsberg scored another creative goal, Pekka Rinne rebounded from a rocky performance with 31 saves, and the Nashville Predators withstood a furious rally by the Colorado Avalanche for a 3-2 win in Game 4 on Wednesday night in Denver to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round series.
Colton Sissons and Craig Smith also added goals for the Predators, who can close out the series Friday when it shifts back to Nashville for Game 5.
Rinne was solid early after being pulled from the last game. Cruising along and up 3-0, the Vezina Trophy finalist allowed Gabriel Landeskog’s 5-on-3 power-play goal in the third and another on Alexander Kerfoot’s tap-in off a rebound.
Colin Wilson nearly tied it with about 2 minutes left when his shot appeared to hit the post. The Avalanche pulled backup goalie Andrew Hammond late, but couldn’t get the tying goal.
Forsberg worked his puck-handling magic in the first period by dancing around defenseman Duncan Siemens and juking Jonathan Bernier for his third goal of the series. The ever-creative Forsberg had an artistic goal in Game 1 as well, when he sent the puck through the defenseman’s legs before scoring.
Bernier allowed three goals on 26 shots before being replaced by Hammond to start the third period due to a lower body injury. Hammond had eight saves.
Forsberg and his crew came out with a little more spring in their skates for Game 4. This may have played a role: The team went through a spirited practice the day before. It was a way to avoid a sluggish start like Monday when Colorado
scored three times in the first period of Game 3.
The strategy worked. Nashville controlled the tempo except for a frenzied stretch in the third. PENGUINS 5, FLYERS 0 >> Sidney Crosby scored his fifth goal of the series and became the Pittsburgh Penguins’ career postseason points leader in a win in Philadelphia.
The Penguins lead the series 3-1 as its shifts to Pittsburgh for Game 5.
Matt Murray stopped 26 shots for his second shutout of the series and the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins are a win away from playing in the second round for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons.
Crosby scored in the second period for a 4-0 lead and passed Pittsburgh owner and Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux for most playoff points with 173. Crosby and the Penguins followed a 7-0 Game 1 win and a 5-1 Game 3 victory with another dominant outing.
LIGHTNING 3, DEVILS 1 >> Nikita Kucherov scored two goals, set up another and knocked New Jersey’s top defenseman Sami Vatanen out of the game with a big hit, and visiting Tampa Bay moved within a game of making the Devils’ first trip to the playoffs in six years a short one.
J.T. Miller also scored and had two assists, and Vezina Trophy finalist Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped three breakaways in making 27 saves as the Lightning bounced back from a loss in Game 3 to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
Kyle Palmieri scored on a 5-on-3 advantage for the Devils.
NOTE >> Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey was suspended for one game by the NHL for crosschecking Minnesota Wild forward Eric Staal on Tuesday. Game 5 is Friday night in Winnipeg.