ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) James Neal scored 9:24 into overtime, and the Nashville Predators kicked off their first appearance in the Western Conference finals with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night.
Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for the Predators, who continued their dominant surge through these Stanley Cup playoffs with a strong start and a gritty overtime effort after Hampus Lindholm’s first playoff goal in two years tied it for the Ducks.
Filip Forsberg and Austin Watson scored in regulation for Nashville, which improved to 9-2 in the postseason.
Jakob Silfverberg scored on the Ducks’ first shot, and John Gibson stopped 43 shots.