Los Angeles: The Chicago Blackhawks were left staring down the barrel of a shock early play-off exit after Kevin Fiala’s overtime winner handed the Nashville Predators a 3-0 series lead on Monday.
Fiala slipped a backhander past Corey Crawford as Nashville fought back from 2-0 down to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory in Nashville.
The win means the Predators are just one victory away from sending Chicago crashing out of the play-offs in what would be a stunning end to the postseason for the Western Conference top seeds.
Fiala’s winner came after he had missed two golden chances in overtime.
Crawford had seemed determined to keep Chicago alive, making 46 stops in the defeat. Pekka Rinne made 34 saves for Nashville.
Chicago now face the Predators on Thursday in Game 4, aiming to avoid a series sweep.
Elsewhere on Monday, the Ottawa Senators edged into a 2-1 series lead against the Boston Bruins after claiming a pulsating 4-3 overtime win.
Ottawa had squandered a three-goal lead as Boston battled back to 3-3.
However, a crucial power play against the Bruins in overtime was to be decisive, with Bobby Ryan taking advantage to score the game-winner.
Bruins interim coach Bruce Cassidy lashed out at the decision, which had seen Riley Nash sent to the penalty box following a clash with Ryan.
“Demoralising and disappointing... there’s probably a lot more words, but they called it,” Cassidy said of referee Tim Peel’s call.
Bruins fans later registered their disgust with the officiating, littering the ice with debris after the match.
“I think it’s the type of penalty — that stuff was kind of let go all game,” said Bruins left wing Brad Marchand.
“It’s tough, but we gotta bounce back and be better next game.”
