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With the score ties at 3-3, Sissons ripped home a one-timer
from the left circle that was set up by Calle Jarnkrok, three
seconds after the Predators killed off a power-play following a
delay-of-game call on Roman Josi.
"There was a turnover and I got lost on the back side," he said
of his tie-breaking goal. "Calle made a beautiful pass, and
fortunately I put it away."
Filip Forsberg and Austin Watson iced the win at 17:38 and
18:26, respectively, with empty-net goals to seal the Western
Conference finals series by a 4-2 margin.
Nashville will play either the Ottawa Senators or the Pittsburgh
Penguins in the finals, starting May 29 in the Eastern
Conference venue. The defending NHL champion Penguins lead that
best-of-seven series 3-2.
It is the third different team Nashville coach Peter Laviolette
will take to the Cup finals. He won the title with the Carolina
Hurricanes in 2006 and lost with the Philadelphia Flyers in
2010.
"It probably means I got fired a lot," Laviolette joked about
his accomplishment.
Goalie Pekka Rinne made 38 saves for Nashville, which was
outshot 41-18 as Anaheim controlled most of the last 50 minutes
of action.
Despite the constant barrage of attacks, Rinne never cracked and
the league's lowest playoff seed -- Nashville's 94 points were
the fewest of all 16 post-season participants -- completed its
improbable run to franchise history.
"Our guys know the big picture, what we are trying to do here,"
Laviolette said. "But tonight, they are going to enjoy it."
Ducks goalie Jonathan Bernier, making his first career playoff
start with starter John Gibson (lower-body injury) scratched,
stopped only 12 of the 16 shots he faced.
"This is the worst feeling in hockey," Ducks captain Ryan
Getzlaf said. "We worked so hard all year -- and in the game --
and it is incredibly frustrating."
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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