Stars eliminate Predators on Klingberg's OT goal

[April 23, 2019]  Defenseman John Klingberg scored 17:02 into overtime as the host Dallas Stars advanced to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on Monday.

Former Predators forward Alexander Radulov sent a circle-to-circle pass to Klingberg, who made no mistake by wiring a shot over the glove of Pekka Rinne to allow Dallas to clinch a playoff series on home ice for the first time since 2008.

Blake Comeau scored his first goal of the series and Ben Bishop turned aside 47 shots for the Stars, who will face St. Louis in the second round. The Blues eliminated Winnipeg in six games during their first-round series.

Austin Watson scored to snap a 10-game goal drought and Rinne finished with 49 saves for the Predators, who failed on all four power-play opportunities to finish 0-for-15 with the man advantage in the series.

Nashville took advantage of a Dallas turnover in its own zone to open the scoring for the fourth time in the series.

Defenseman P.K. Subban wired a shot from above the right circle that was deflected by teammate Brian Boyle as he screened Bishop. The puck squirted out to Watson, who converted from in close at 5:47 into the first period.

Dallas captain Jamie Benn nearly forged a tie midway into the first period, but his bid caromed off the left post. He hit the post for the second time in overtime.

Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) celebrates a game winning goal scored by defenseman John Klingberg (not pictured) during the overtime period against the Nashville Predators in game six of the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Stars leveled the contest at 5:20 of the second period after they pushed the puck past Subban to create a three-on-one rush. Radek Faksa skated into the offensive zone before setting up Comeau, who wristed a shot from the slot that beat Rinne inside the left post.

The Stars again were denied early in the third period, as defenseman Esa Lindell's backhander from deep in the right circle hit the left post.

Nashville also had its chances early in the third, but Kyle Turris' shot off a two-on-one rush sailed just wide of the net before Bishop closed his pads on Colton Sissons' backhand shot on a breakaway.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott attended the game.

--Field Level Media

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