Adam Vingan

USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee





Had you stumbled into Peter Laviolette’s press conference Tuesday without knowing what preceded it, you’d be clueless to the magnitude of the situation.

The Predators coach stood behind a podium and unemotionally recapped his team’s 2-1 victory against the St. Louis Blues, his voice flat as he lauded his players for how they handled a tension-filled Game 4.

This couldn’t be the same man who earlier reared back his right arm and unleashed a vigorous fist pump, could it?

“We talked about it going out for that third period that this game most likely will end 1-0,” Laviolette said of that celebration, the result of defenseman Ryan Ellis’ third-period goal. "We just wanted to make sure we’re on the right side of it. I think everybody was excited."

The unrestrained emotion exhibited by Laviolette at that particular moment was appropriate. Nashville is on the verge of an unprecedented feat in franchise history.

A win Friday in St. Louis would clinch the Predators’ first trip to the Western Conference final.

“It’s what we’ve built for all year and put our focus on all year,” said Predators forward James Neal, who padded the team’s lead with a knuckling wrist shot late in the third period. "We’re continuing to get better throughout the playoffs. Each game brings challenges. We’ve been up for them each night.”

The Bridgestone Arena ice surface brimmed with animosity Tuesday. The Predators and Blues understood how the outcome of the game would impact the series. Each hit had a bit more venom behind it. Each post-whistle scrum seemed to draw a larger crowd.

“It’s battles out there,” Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. "Every whistle, something’s going on and someone’s trying to do something to get the other one angry or (to) retaliate.”

A 10-man skirmish near the benches placed two Blues players in the penalty box early in the third period. That is when Ellis struck, his goal extending his playoff point streak to seven games, which tied the team record.

"That was by far the hardest game of the series," Ellis said. "I thought they played well at both ends of the ice. I thought we played well, too. It was deadlocked at zeroes for most of the game and we just got a couple of bounces."

REXRODE:Predators take Blues' best shot but prevail

Ellis leapt into Neal’s arms after the forward’s critical goal, the two gleefully tumbling to the ice.

Laviolette gently clapped from the bench. This celebration was much more businesslike, reflective of how the Predators are handling their current position.

“We all know that it’s one win away, something that at least the guys who’ve been drafted by Nashville and groomed by Nashville, we’ve never been there," said Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who has a 1.33 goals-against average and .953 save percentage during the playoffs after making 32 saves Tuesday. "That’s something that would obviously be amazing and for this organization, too.

"Now we have a chance to really step on their throat, and we can control our destiny. You couldn’t ask for more.”

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

PREDATORS vs. BLUES

Predators lead series 3-1

All games broadcast on 102.5-FM

Game 1: Nashville 4, St. Louis 3

Game 2: St. Louis 3, Nashville 2

Game 3: Nashville 3, St. Louis 1

Game 4: Nashville 2, St. Louis 1

Friday: at St. Louis, 7 p.m. (NBC SN)

x — Sunday: at Nashville, TBD (TBD)

x — Tuesday: at St. Louis, TBD (TBD)