Predators pounce to close on final first

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - The Nashville Predators don't have their top center, and their captain is touch and go with an upper-body injury.

They still have Pekka Rinne in net, though.

And the Predators have a chance at history on their own ice, a win away from the first Stanley Cup final berth in the franchise's history.

As coach Peter Laviolette put it: The guys know what's at stake.

Standing in their way? The Anaheim Ducks, the only team to beat them in their home rink in the playoffs over the past two postseasons.

The Predators returned home with a 3-2 Western Conference finals lead after a 3-1 victory over the Ducks in Anaheim on Saturday led by Rinne, who is 7-3 in the Honda Center in the postseason. To avoid a return trip for a Game 7 to test that once again, they can eliminate the Ducks on Monday night.

"We obviously know what's at stake," forward Colin Wilson said on Sunday. "It is one game at a time, but we know our next win puts us in contention for the Stanley Cup. So it's something we're focused on, but it is just about that next game, getting the next win."

The Predators are 10-1 at Bridgestone Arena the past two postseasons, and another record crowd - not counting the fans watching just outside the building - is expected for what will be one of the biggest sporting events in Nashville history.

They could hear the cheering fans the instant they stepped off the plane, and Laviolette said he knows Monday night will be crazy.

That leaves it up to the Predators to handle business on the ice.

"We got to put our foot on the gas pedal again, and make sure we're ready to play," Laviolette said.

Being in a position to win the Campbell Bowl on home ice seemed remote on Friday when the Predators announced their top scorer, center Ryan Johansen, would miss the rest of the postseason after emergency surgery to repair compartment syndrome on his left thigh. They also were without captain Mike Fisher because of injury.

Laviolette simply tapped Rinne for help.

Pontus Aberg, who played only 15 games with the Predators all season, scored the winner on his first career playoff goal.

Of Nashville's 11 wins, 10 Predators have winning goals. Frederick Gaudreau helped fill in at center in his postseason debut and won 10 of 14 face-offs against the best team on the dot in these playoffs.

Rinne, who shut out the Blackhawks twice in Chicago to open this postseason, played arguably his best game yet. He made 32 saves and aggressively played the puck to help hold off the Ducks. Rinne is 11-4 in these playoffs, and his 1.62 goals-against average is the fourth lowest in NHL history, while his .942 save percentage the fourth highest with a minimum of 15 games played.

"He's been great all playoffs, and the team has so much confidence in him," defenseman Roman Josi said about Rinne. "It's awesome playing in front of him, and he's been unbelievable."

Associated Press