Preds win from ousting Ducks to reach 1st Stanley Cup Final

Pekka Rinne – Nashville’s netminder delivered a strong performance, stopping 31 of 32 shots, in a 3-1 Game Five win at Anaheim. John Gibson was taken out due to injury after the first period on Saturday, though he’s expected to be fine for Game 6. The morning skate before Game 6 had been labeled as an evaluation for Gibson’s status, with backup Jonathan Bernier slated to make his first postseason start for Anaheim in the event Gibson is unable to go.

Austin Watson added an empty-net goal in the final minute, emphatically ending Anaheim’s streak of seven consecutive Game 5 victories at home since 2011.

Johansen wasn’t the only one missing from the Predators’ lineup for Game 5 either, as captain Mike Fisher was inactive for the game with an undisclosed injury.

Patrick Eaves did not travel with the Ducks to Nashville and is doubtful on Monday with a leg injury.

Being in position to win the Campbell Bowl on home ice seemed remote Friday when the Predators announced their top scorer, center Ryan Johansen, would miss the rest of the postseason after emergency surgery to fix compartment syndrome on his left thigh.

Johansen, the fourth overall pick of the 2010 National Hockey League draft by Columbus, had 14 goals and 47 assists while playing in all 82 regular-season games.

“The term I would use to describe this effort is gutsy”, Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. “But it needs to be other guys that step up”. All of this players will be evaluated, therefore come game six we shall find out if they will be starting.

“He’s been great all playoffs, and the team has so much confidence in him”, defenseman Roman Josi said about Rinne. The 20-year-old Swiss forward got in 54 games and used his speed and tenacity to play a critical role. In their 11 wins so far, 10 different Predators have notched a game-winning goal in the playoffs.

“I like our first pass, I didn’t like our second pass”, Carlyle said. Next man up… In my blog yesterday, I wrote that all the Anaheim Ducks needed to do was “show up and play their game” in order to win game five.

Wagner said that despite the injuries to Rakell and Gibson, his team did not give the necessary effort to gain control of the series. So we’re confident in our group.”. Out of the 299:47 of ice time in the series, 265:24 of it has been played with a tie score or one-goal lead by either team. Wilson converted a backhand shot of an initial shot from P.K. Subban. He played just under 12 minutes, while Nashville took over the lead in the third period on the Aberg goal.

Fortunately for the Predators, the system is in place for young, energizing players to thrive. Nicolas Kerdiles replaced him in the line-up.