Neal's OT goal puts Preds past Ducks 3-2 to open West final

Nashville Predators' Filip Forsberg, right, celebrates after scoring against Anaheim Ducks' Antoine Vermette, center, and goalie John Gibson during the first period of Game 1 in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals, Friday, May 12, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (The Associated Press)

prev next

Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) blocks a shot from Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf as Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm looks on during the second period of Game 1 in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals, Friday, May 12, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (The Associated Press)

Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne, top left, blocks a shot by Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler during the second period of Game 1 in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Western Conference finals, Friday, May 12, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) (The Associated Press)

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. Just two days after finishing off Edmonton in the second round, Anaheim struggled to keep up at times with the more-rested Predators.

Game 2 is Sunday night.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/neals-ot-goal-puts-preds-past-ducks-3-2-to-open-west-final