Bobby Ryan was back in the Ducks line up as they looked to take their first lead of the series and go 3-2 up on home ice. Nashville had never won a game 5 in playoff hockey. They had never made it to 3 wins in a series either.
It was Nashville who took the lead in the 1st period at 8.32. As Tootoo carried the puck in on a 2 on 1 breakaway, he managed to beat the sliding defender to pull the puck onto his backhand and fire it across the crease towards Klein who got the tip in past Emery.
It was Nashville who were having all the play through the 1st. Even a powerplay at 14.08 couldn't see the Ducks get themselves level and the Predators held a 1-0 lead at the end of the period.
Nashville were still on top through most of the 2nd buit Anaheim dragged themselves back into the game. This time the powerplay did fire but through an unusual source. It was Blake who stuffed the puck in after Koivu had tipped a long range shot that Rinne had saved.
It was Bobby Ryan who gave the Ducks the lead only 40 seconds into the 3rd period with what was probably the goal of the playoffs so far. Stealing the puck mid ice he skated down centre ice with Legwand for company. He pulled the puck, forehand side through Legwand's leg, his opponent losing his stick but sticking with him. He then pulled the puck backhand back around Legwand and in on Rinne. He then took it back to his backhand and fired it stick side past the moving netminder. It was a simply outstanding finish.
Nashville tied the game up at 11.20 with Joel Ward getting his 3rd of the series. He picked up a drop pass from Legwand and fired a slapshot high over the net from just over the Playoff sign on the ice. The puck crashed into the boards and bounced straight back to Ward's stick who was now in the circle on the opposite side of the ice and he fired a 2nd slap shot that flew past Emery into the net.
The Ducks looked like they had won the game with 5.44 left in the 3rd. Blake netted his 2nd goal of the game. Selanne was knocked down behind the net but somehow still managed to sweep the puck infront to Blake whilst he was prone on the floor. Blake was free infront and fired the Ducks to within a whisker of taking a 3-2 series lead.
It was Weber who ruined the Ducks celebrations with 36 seconds left. Rinne was off the ice as Fisher won an offensive zone draw and the puck was fed to Weber who released a wrister on net that avoided everyone infront of the screened Emery. He never even saw it as it nestled in the net gloveside.
That took the game into overtime and the momentum was all with the Predators. They capitalised on this only 1.57 into the extra period as Smithson won the game. Tootoo had a couple of wrist shots saved by Emery at his near post and as Nashville recycled the puck it was Tootoo who fed the puck back out from behind the net to Smithson who buried his wrist shot.
The Predators broke their unwanted records and have now put themselves in a great position to make it to the Conference Semi Finals for the 1st time. Anaheim were dissapointing again and really need to raise their game now if they are to stay in this series. Nashville outshot the Ducks 37-26 on their own ice and now have their destiny in their own hands.
No comments:
Post a Comment