Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop (30) is pushed into the net by Ben Lovejoy (21) who helps defend against a pressure from Nashville Predators’ Colton Sissons (10) in the second period of Game 6 in an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in Dallas, Monday, April 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
DALLAS (AP) – John Klingberg scored from the left circle 17:02 into overtime and the Dallas Stars beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 to wrap up their first-round Western Conference playoff series in six games.
Klingberg’s first goal of the playoffs came on a cross-ice pass from Alexander Radulov.
The win by the Stars came 11 years after the previous time they clinched a playoff series on home ice. They needed overtime for a 2-1 win in that Game 6 as well – four overtimes to beat San Jose in the second round of the 2008 playoffs.
The Stars will play St. Louis in the second round of these playoffs, just as they did in their previous postseason appearance three years ago. The Blues, who have home-ice advantage this time, won that 2016 series with a Game 7 win in Dallas.
Nashville Predators left wing Austin Watson, front, is congratulated by teammates on the bench after scoring against the Dallas Stars during Game 6 of their first-round playoff series April 22 in Dallas.
Ben Bishop, Vezina Trophy finalist, had a playoff career-high 47 saves for the Stars.