Toothless Aberg pots winner as Preds grab NHL series lead

Pontus Aberg lost a tooth but delivered the game winner just moments apart in the third period Saturday as the Nashville Predators beat Anaheim 3-1 in game five of their NHL playoff series. Aberg grabbed a rebound in front of the Ducks goal and scored while diving headfirst across the crease to break a 1-1 tie with nine minutes remaining in the third. He was forced to leave the game after his goal to get checked by doctors for a possible concussion. "They called me off of there, after I scored that goal," he said. "So I didn't expect that. It didn't hurt me at all. But the league called it in, so I had to. "I kind of face planted there and lost my tooth, but it didn't hurt my head." Austin Watson iced the victory, scoring into an empty net with 48 seconds remaining as the Predators took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference final. Game six of the series is Monday in Nashville. The winner of the series will face either Pittsburgh or Ottawa in the Stanley Cup finals. Sweden's Aberg was in the Nashville lineup Saturday partly to fill an offensive void left by the loss of leading scorer Ryan Johansen, who underwent season-ending thigh surgery after game four. Losing him gave the Predators their first major test after they rolled through the first two rounds of the NHL playoffs with little adversity. Passing with flying colors, they took another step toward their first Stanley Cup finals appearance. - Overcoming adversity - "Things have gone pretty smoothly for us this post-season and if we want to go all the way, we have to come through this," Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne said. Aberg, 23, had to leave the ice area as soon as he returned to the bench, heading to the locker room to get checked for a concussion due to an incident that took place during his previous shift. His tooth popped out after landing face first on the ice following a crosscheck from behind by Ducks forward Nick Ritchie. Rinne was solid again, making 32 saves for the Predators as they continued their magic-carpet ride through the post-season. "Going into these games I want to be a difference maker," Rinne said. "I knew I had to be good if we wanted to win this game. "You don't want to have regrets when you look in mirror at the end of game," he added. "I feel pretty good right now." The play that led to the game-winning goal started with Rinne making a series of impressive saves. The Predators got the puck and Aberg jumped off the bench, charged to the front of the net and put in a Filip Forsberg rebound. Captain Mike Fisher also didn't play Saturday, leaving the Predators without their two top centers. The Ducks' goal was scored by Chris Wagner. Anaheim starting goaltender John Gibson left the game after the first period with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Jonathan Bernier took the loss while stopping 16 of 18 shots. Gibson stopped all 10 shots he faced.