After two scoreless periods, it was Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis who finally put the puck in the back of a net at a loud Bridgestone Arena late Tuesday night.
Within minutes, P.K. Subban was heading down the tunnel after a hit by Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson. But both players spent time in the box - Edmundson for roughing, Subban for embellishment.
Subban returned to the bench before James Neal spun a shot past Blues goaltender Jake Allen, putting the Preds up 2-0 with just less than seven minutes left in regulation.
Not one, but two Smashville standing ovations later, and only 3:49 left in game four, Joel Edmundson put St. Louis in the game.
That was it for scoring, and the Preds upped their series to 3-1.
After the game, Coach Peter Laviolette's started his comments on Ryan Ellis with one word, "Wow."
In the post-game presser, Coach Laviolette said Ellis is "a strong, strong defensive player, and he's on a roll offensively."
But the Preds have carried the same thought throughout the postseason: it's not over until it's over.
Goalie Pekka Rinne, who shut down 32 shots Tuesday night, echoed that sentiment, telling NewsChannel 5, "We gotta find a way to close it out next game... Our city has been waiting for this and so have we."
The Predators have the chance to move on to the Western conference finals for the first time in franchise history should they beat St. Louis Friday. Puck drop is at 7pm at the Scottrade Center.
