Coyotes continue surge, close out Predators in Game 5

GLENDALE, Arizona — An hour before one of the biggest games in franchise history, the Phoenix Coyotes learned a deal was in place for a new owner, one they hoped would end three years of uncertainty.

Stick back: New York's Henrik Lundqvist blocks a shot from Washington in the third period of Game 5 on Monday night. The Rangers beat the Capitals 3-2 and lead the series 3-2. AP

They celebrated in typical fashion: grinding out another victory.

This one, though, will take them somewhere they've never been before: the Western Conference finals.

Relying again on their grit and the superb goaltending of Mike Smith, the Coyotes beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 on Monday night to earn their first trip to the conference finals in 33 years as an NHL franchise.

"It feels great right now, a lot of hard work," Phoenix defenseman Keith Yandle said. "It's been a battle the past few years, but it's a lot of fun and we're blessed to be where we are right now."

The day started off with news the Coyotes and their fans had been anticipating for three years.

Speaking as players from both teams warmed up in the hallway, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that a tentative deal had been reached to sell the Coyotes to former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison.

Phoenix paid it no mind. The Coyotes had spent the previous three seasons with the uncertainty hanging over them and had learned to keep their focus on the ice, not what happens off it.

Playing its usual counterpunching style, Phoenix withstood an early flurry by Nashville and followed with goals from Derek Morris and Martin Hanzal in the second period.

And, as usual, the Coyotes gave up a late goal to make it interesting, this one by Colin Wilson with just under 6 minutes left.

Phoenix has become accustomed to seat-of-their-pants victories, though, and they pulled out another one, nearly getting an empty-net goal by Smith before setting off a raucous celebration on the ice rink surrounded by desert.

Next up for the Coyotes are the Los Angeles Kings, the first No. 8 seed to knock off Nos. 1 and 2 in the same playoffs.

Rangers 3, Capitals 2 (OT)

In New York, Marc Staal scored a power-play goal 1:35 into overtime after Brad Richards tied it in the dying seconds of regulation to lift the Rangers to a stunning victory over Washington in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

With goalie Henrik Lundqvist pulled for an extra attacker, the Capitals' Joel Ward took a four-minute penalty for high-sticking Carl Hagelin with 21.3 seconds left in the third period.

Richards tied it on the first half of the power play with just 7.6 seconds to go, and Staal won it with a drive that appeared to deflect off a Washington player before beating goalie Braden Holtby.

The top-seeded Rangers can advance to the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday in Washington.

With the crowd still buzzing over the shocking tying goal, a din that held up through the long intermission, John Mitchell won a faceoff in the Capitals' end to start the winning play.

Staal corralled the puck at the right point, glided to the center of the zone, and fired the drive that set off a wild celebration on the ice and in the seats at Madison Square Garden.

John Carlson, who had given Washington a 2-1 lead in the third period, couldn't keep the puck out after he got in behind Holtby as a last line of defense.

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