Predators Regain Series Lead…Ducks Whip Oilers

(AP) — The Nashville Predators have the upper hand in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Cody McLeod's second-period goal was the eventual game-winner as Nashville earned a 3-1 win against St. Louis. It's the seventh straight home playoff win for the Predators, who now own a two-games-to-one lead in the series.

Ryan Ellis opened the scoring midway through the first period before McLeod doubled Nashville's lead. Roman Josi also scored in helping the Predators hand the Blues their first road loss of the postseason.

Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne finished with 22 saves, including a flurry of stops in the final period. Rinne blanked the Blues after Alexander Steen scored with about seven minutes left in the second period.

Game 3 is Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks were able to bounce back from consecutive home losses to Edmonton. The Ducks trail the second-round series 2-1 after Jakob Silfverberg scored twice in a 6-3 win against the Oilers. Ryan Getzlaf added a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who also goal tallies from Rickard Rakell, Chris Wagner and Ryan Kesler. Wagner's goal broke a 3-3 tie in the second period.

John Gibson stopped 24 shots for Anaheim, while Cam Talbot made 22 saves for Edmonton.

Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the series for the Oilers, who host Game 4 on Wednesday.