For the first time in the Stanley Cup playoffs, there is a little pressure on the Nashville Predators.
As the Predators enter Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Blues at Bridgestone Arena, they own a 3-2 series lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal. A victory in front of what’s sure to be a raucous sellout crowd assures them their first trip to the conference final.
But what looked like fait accompli a few days ago with the series at 3-1 doesn’t seem like such a cinch now.
St. Louis followed up arguably its most complete effort in a 2-1 Game 4 loss with a better one in Friday night’s 2-1 victory in Game 5, putting 32 shots on net to Nashville’s 22 and looking like the better team in 5-on-5 play for the second straight game.