ANAHEIM, California: Pontus Aberg scored the game winner moments after suffering a possible concussion Saturday, lifting the Nashville Predators to a 3-1 victory over Anaheim in Game 5 of their NHL playoff series.
Aberg grabbed a rebound in front of the Anaheim goal and shot the puck into the net 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 6 of the series is Monday in Nashville. The winner will face either Pittsburgh or Ottawa in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Sweden’s Aberg was in the Nashville lineup Saturday in part to fill the offensive void left by the loss of leading scorer Ryan Johansen, who underwent season-ending thigh surgery after Game 4.
The Predators rolled through the first two rounds of the NHL playoffs with little adversity, so the loss of Johansen was their first major test and they passed with flying colors, taking another step toward their first Stanley Cup finals appearance.
“Things have gone pretty smoothly for us this post-season 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 after his goal, 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 Saturday, leaving the Predators without their two top centers.
Aberg grabbed a rebound in front of the Anaheim goal and shot the puck into the net 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 6 of the series is Monday in Nashville. The winner will face either Pittsburgh or Ottawa in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Sweden’s Aberg was in the Nashville lineup Saturday in part to fill the offensive void left by the loss of leading scorer Ryan Johansen, who underwent season-ending thigh surgery after Game 4.
The Predators rolled through the first two rounds of the NHL playoffs with little adversity, so the loss of Johansen was their first major test and they passed with flying colors, taking another step toward their first Stanley Cup finals appearance.
“Things have gone pretty smoothly for us this post-season 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 after his goal, 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 Saturday, leaving the Predators without their two top centers.
