Sunday, May 7, 2017

Central Division Final: 3) St. Louis Blues VS. 4) Nashville Predators

It's time for the second round of the playoffs, as the NHL's quest for the Stanley Cup continues. This series features Central Division rivals, the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators.

Game 1: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Jake Allen for the Blues. Nashville started in the first period with a Colin Wilson power play goal, powered by P.K. Subban and Ryan Ellis. The Predators added on with a Subban goal in the second period, made possible by Ryan Johansen. St. Louis got on the board with a Colton Parayko goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Joel Edmundson and Kyle Brodziak. Nashville answered with a Filip Forsberg power play goal, his third of the playoffs, with assists provided by Subban and Roman Josi. The Blues pulled back with a Jaden Schwartz goal in the third period, his third of the postseason, guided in by Paul Stastny and Edmundson. St. Louis tied it on a Vladimir Sobotka goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Magnus Paajarvi. The Predators took the lead back with a Vernon Fiddler goal, with a lone assist by Austin Watson. This made it 4-3, the final, with the three stars handed to Subban, Edmundson, and Fiddler. The Predators have a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Jake Allen for the Blues. Nashville opened in the first period with a James Neal goal, coming off of Colton Sissons and Ryan Ellis. St. Louis tied it on a Vladimir Tarasenko power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Alex Pietrangelo and Alexander Steen. The Predators retook the lead with an Ellis goal, his second of the playoffs, going in unassisted in the third period. The Blues tied it on a Jori Lehtera goal, via Patrik Berglund and Colton Parayko. St. Louis took the lead with a Tarasenko goal, his second of the game and third of the postseason, assisted by Joel Edmundson and Jaden Schwartz. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars given to Tarasenko, Ellis, and Lehtera. The series is tied at 1 as it shifts to Tennessee.

Game 3: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Jake Allen for the Blues and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Nashville led off in the first period with a Ryan Ellis goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Filip Forsberg and P.K. Subban. The Predators added on with a Cody McLeod goal, via Colton Sissons and Mattias Ekholm. St. Louis got on the board with an Alexander Steen goal, his third of the playoffs, assisted by Alex Pietrangelo and Vladimir Sobotka. Nashville replied in the third period with a Roman Josi goal, his third of the postseason, made possible by Sissons and Harry Zolnierczyk. This made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars going to Sissons, McLeod, and Rinne (22 for 23 in saves). The Predators retake the series lead at 2-1.

Game 4: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Jake Allen for the Blues and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Nashville got going in the third period with a Ryan Ellis power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, powered by Colin Wilson. The Predators added on with a James Neal goal, his second of the playoffs, going in unassisted. St. Louis got on the board with a Joel Edmundson goal, his third of the postseason, via Alexander Steen and Jori Lehtera. The game ended at 2-1, with the three stars being Rinne (32 for 33 in saves), Neal, and Ellis. The Predators have a 3-1 series lead, on the verge of advancing.

Game 5: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and Jake Allen for the Blues. St. Louis dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Dmitrij Jaskin goal, passed from Alex Pietrangelo and Vladimir Sobotka. Nashville tied it on a James Neal power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by P.K. Subban and Roman Josi. The Blues took the lead in the third period on a Jaden Schwartz goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Colton Parayko. This made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars handed to Schwartz, Jaskin, and Allen (21 for 22 in saves). The series heads back to Tennessee with the Predators ahead 3-2. 

Game 6: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Jake Allen for the Blues and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. St. Louis began in the first period with a Paul Stastny goal, his second of the postseason, via Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz. Nashville tied it in the second period on a Roman Josi goal, his fourth of the playoffs, assisted by Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Johansen. The Predators took the lead with a Johansen goal in the third period, his second of the postseason, guided in by Viktor Arvidsson and Filip Forsberg. Nashville iced it at 3-1 with a Calle Jarnkrok empty net goal, set up by Josi and the goalie Rinne. The three stars were Johansen, Josi, and Rinne (23 for 24 in saves). The Predators are the first team to advance to the Western Conference final on a 4-2 series win.

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