from Adam Vingan of The Tennessean,
A win Friday in St. Louis would clinch the Predators’ first trip to the Western Conference final.
“It’s what we’ve built for all year and put our focus on all year,” said Predators forward James Neal, who padded the team’s lead with a knuckling wrist shot late in the third period. "We’re continuing to get better throughout the playoffs. Each game brings challenges. We’ve been up for them each night.”
The Bridgestone Arena ice surface brimmed with animosity Tuesday. The Predators and Blues understood how the outcome of the game would impact the series. Each hit had a bit more venom behind it. Each post-whistle scrum seemed to draw a larger crowd.
“It’s battles out there,” Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. "Every whistle, something’s going on and someone’s trying to do something to get the other one angry or (to) retaliate.”...
“We all know that it’s one win away, something that at least the guys who’ve been drafted by Nashville and groomed by Nashville, we’ve never been there," said Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who has a 1.33 goals-against average and .953 save percentage during the playoffs after making 32 saves Tuesday. "That’s something that would obviously be amazing and for this organization, too.
"Now we have a chance to really step on their throat, and we can control our destiny. You couldn’t ask for more.”
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