3 – Johansen’s GWG against St. Louis in Game Six
For the second straight year the Nashville Predators found themselves in the second round of the playoffs. This time they faced off against an opponent they had never seen in postseason play before, the St. Louis Blues. The Blues were a hungry team. They had just finished off the Minnesota Wild and were looking to make it back to the Western Conference Finals.
Nashville won the first game of the series after surrendering a two goal lead. St. Louis took the second game to tie the series. The series shifted back to Nashville and the Predators won both games. After dropping game five Nashville was given an opportunity to close out the series on home ice.
Game 6 did not start the way Nashville wanted as Paul Stastny scored just two minutes into the game. That was the last time the Blues found the back of the net, though. Josi managed to tie the game early in the second, and one period later history was made.
Johansen scored the series clinching goal in the third period off a gorgeous feed from Arvidsson. This play gets top honors for two reasons: the implications of the goal and the beauty of it. Johansen helped send the Predators to the Western Conference Finals for the first time and he did it in style.