Blues defeat Predators in Game 5, extend series

ST. LOUIS -- Dmitrij Jaskin scored in his first game of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the St. Louis Blues earn a chance to play at least one more.
The Blues extended the Western Conference Second Round with a 2-1 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 5 at Scottrade Center on Friday.
"It's unbelievable," Jaskin said. "What we had to do tonight, we did, and everybody's happy. We can enjoy it now for a few minutes and then forget it and get another one."

WATCH: [All Predators vs. Blues highlights | RELATED: Complete Nashville vs. St. Louis series coverage]
St. Louis trails the best-of-7 series 3-2 with Game 6 at Nashville on Sunday. The loss kept the Predators from advancing to a conference final for the first time.
Jaskin was in the lineup in place of forward Alexander Steen, who participated in warmups but was scratched. He gave the Blues a 1-0 lead at 5:43 of the second period, getting to the rebound of an Alex Pietrangelo shot from the point below the left faceoff circle and beating Pekka Rinne.
It was Jaskin's first goal since Dec. 3, which was his only regular-season goal in 51 games.
"He was really good all game from the start and got rewarded with a goal and a couple other chances," Pietrangelo said. "Brought some really good energy that we needed. You're happy for a guy like that who gets a chance to come in and has an impact."

Jaden Schwartz gave the Blues a 2-1 lead 25 seconds into the third period on another rebound. Colton Parayko shot from the point, and Schwartz scored his fourth goal.
"I'm always proud of this group," Pietrangelo said. "The effort is always there. Sometimes we don't execute the way we want, but tonight was resilient. Not an ideal 5-on-3 situation, but we found a way to bounce back. We know it might take us 60 minutes or more to get that win, but we stuck with it and [goalie Jake Allen] was great again."
James Neal scored for the Predators at 13:50 of the second period on a 5-on-3 power play to tie the game 1-1. P.K. Subban passed to Neal below the right faceoff circle, and he beat Allen on a wrist shot for his third goal.

"I think we just need to play a more consistent 60 minutes," Predators defenseman Ryan Ellis said. "We had a couple good looks, couple good chances, but we just need to be better overall."
Allen made 21 saves for St. Louis, which is 3-2 at home this postseason.
"I thought we just stuck to our game plan," he said. "We didn't get rattled, especially when they got that 5-on-3 there and they scored. We just kept with it and it paid off."
Rinne made 30 saves for Nashville, which is 7-2 in the playoffs.

Goal of the game

Schwartz's goal came after the puck was redirected off Parayko's shot from the point. Schwartz crashed the net and beat Rinne on the blocker side.

Save of the game

Allen stopped Filip Forsberg on a partial breakaway in the third period to prevent a tying goal. Forsberg tried to beat Allen with a wrist shot on the blocker side, but Allen directed the puck to the corner.

Unsung performance of the game

The Blues killed a penalty in the second period after the Predators killed a 5-on-3 power play and 2:04 of a 5-on-4, keeping Nashville from gaining momentum from those kills.

Highlight of the game

Jaskin's goal was the first time in the series the Blues scored first. Rinne tried to get across the crease and make a right-pad save, but Jaskin shot past him.

They said it

"They were good tonight. We didn't play the game we wanted to play and it was still a tight game. We had a few chances at the end, couldn't bury. But another battle in Game 6." -- Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne
"We had a must-win. We've played well in spurts this series, but I don't think we've played consistently great and I think tonight was a step. We're still backs against the wall [in Game 6]. We've got to come out even harder, even better in a really, really tough building and see where it goes." -- Blues goaltender Jake Allen

Need to know

Jaskin had eight shots on goal, four hits and two blocked shots playing 15:46. … Ellis' seven-game point streak ended (four goals, five assists).

What's next

Game 6 of Western Conference First Round at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday (3 p.m. ET; NBC, TVA Sports, SN)