NSH@DAL, Gm6: Klingberg scores in OT for series win

DALLAS -- John Klingberg scored 17:02 into overtime, and the Dallas Stars advanced in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at American Airlines Center on Monday.

Klingberg took a cross-ice pass from Alexander Radulov and scored with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle. He credited backup goalie Anton Khudobin for giving him a shooting tip before overtime.
"He told me to shoot low glove, and that's where the puck went in," said Klingberg, who ended a 14-game goal drought dating to the regular season. "He was laughing about it."
WATCH: [Predators vs. Stars Game 6 highlights | Complete series coverage]
Ben Bishop made 47 saves for the Stars, who will play the St. Louis Blues in the second round.
"They're playing really good hockey, the best team since January," Bishop said. "So we're going to have a tough test. Get some rest here and get ready."

NSH@DAL, Gm6: Preds, Stars face off in thrilling OT

It is the first time Dallas has won a playoff series since it defeated the Minnesota Wild in six games in the 2016 first round.
Pekka Rinne made 49 saves for the Predators, who have been to the playoffs in five straight seasons, repeated as Central Division champions, and were eliminated in the first round for the first time since 2015.
"Every single guy in here wanted, obviously, a better result," defenseman P.K. Subban said. "Just a tough one, a tough one to swallow."
Nashville's top line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson was limited to four points (two goals, two assists) in the series. Much of the credit for that went to Dallas' checking line of Andrew Cogliano, Radek Faksa and Blake Comeau.
"I thought that line was our best line tonight," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. "That's the best thing about our group, is it's from top to bottom. From the goalie out, everybody brings the best and brings something to this team."
Austin Watson said of the Stars, "They did such a good job of defending and tight checking. … They made it hard on us, and full credit to that group over there."

NSH@DAL, Gm6: Stars, Predators exchange handshakes

Watson gave the Predators a 1-0 lead at 5:47 of the first period. Subban faked a slap shot above the right face-off circle before taking a wrist shot that was deflected at the top of the crease by Brian Boyle. The puck bounced off Bishop's glove to Watson in the slot.
Comeau tied it 1-1 at 5:20 of the second when he scored with a wrist shot from the top of the left hash marks off a pass from Faksa on a 3-on-1 rush.
Dallas outshot Nashville 14-8 in overtime.
The Predators power play went 0-for-4, the fourth beginning with 1:53 left in the third period and extending into the first seven seconds of overtime. They were 0-for-15 in the series after finishing last in the NHL in power-play percentage during the season (12.9 percent).
"I'm part of the power play, so I take full responsibility for that," Nashville captain Roman Josi said. "It's a huge part, and you saw it in the playoffs. Even tonight we had the chances, and if we got a goal there, it's a different game."
The teams split the first four games, each going 1-1 at home, before the Stars won 5-3 in Game 5 at Nashville on Saturday to force the Predators into a must-win situation.
"There are things I thought we cleaned up from the previous game," Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said when asked to assess the series, "but you'd have to go game by game to break that whole thing down. In the end, they got it done tonight. We didn't."

NSH@DAL, Gm6: Bishop discusses Game 6 victory

They said it

"Their top guys -- Jamie Benn, [Tyler] Seguin, Alexander Radulov -- their young D-men, they had a heck of a series." -- Predators forward Austin Watson
"Going to have a lot of conflicted friends and family. But once the game obviously starts, it's just hockey. It'll be nice to go home and see some friends and family, but it's a business trip. Just focus on Game 1." -- Stars goalie Ben Bishop on playing the Blues in the second round in St. Louis, where he grew up
"I give credit to our leaders and everybody in there. We kept getting better, and it's not easy to do when a team is playing well like Nashville did tonight." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery

ThirstForTheCup: Dallas advances to Second Round

Need to know

Bishop and Rinne each set a career high for saves in an NHL playoff game. … Klingberg is the first defenseman in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history to score in overtime in a series-clinching game. … The Stars clinched a playoff series at home for the first time since defeating the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals. … Dallas won three of four against St. Louis during the regular season, including the two road games.

What's next

Predators: Season over
Stars: At St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of Western Conference Second Round (TBA)

Stars win Game 6 in OT to advance