Rookie Pontus Aberg, an unlikely hero, gets Predators within game of Stanley Cup finals

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Less than four miles from Honda Center in Anaheim stands Disneyland, the physical embodiment of a world where all dreams come true. 

The Disney empire was built on happily ever afters, a dose of magic that the down-on-their-luck Predators seriously needed Saturday in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Anaheim Ducks. 

A championship opportunity within reach, injuries to leading scorer Ryan Johansen and captain Mike Fisher left the Predators suddenly shorthanded.

Their Stanley Cup path appearing to darken, the Predators had to wish upon an unlikely star. It would make no difference who it was. 

Depth and determination are how the Predators won 3-1 on Saturday, and those qualities are what have carried them to within one victory of the Stanley Cup finals. They can advance there Monday evening at Bridgestone Arena. 

“I think we’ve said it all year,” said Predators forward Austin Watson, who scored an empty-net goal in the final minute. "Whatever 20 guys go out there, we’re fully confident in the group that we have going. … It just goes to show the depth of our team. That was a huge win for us.”

►REXRODE:Pekka, Pontus bring it home for Preds

If Saturday's game were a Disney-produced sports movie, it would’ve been the part of the film where the ragtag leftovers rallied around their missing teammates. 

Rookie forward Pontus Aberg, who led the Milwaukee Admirals with 31 goals this season, was the improbable hero of the Predators' makeshift forward lineup. His diving rebound goal with less than 10 minutes left was the game-winner and his first NHL playoff goal.

The keyword is 'team,'" Predators defenseman P.K. Subban said. "That's what you need to win in the playoffs. ... We have a solid team. That includes depth, and you need that all the way from not just our hockey club in the NHL, but also through the minors. ... We're confident with whoever we have on the ice.

"You see a guy like Pontus come in and score a big goal, he's a guy in my opinion who could've been playing on our team all year."

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The Predators weren't outmatched by the Ducks, who experienced their own injury problems Saturday. Starting goaltender John Gibson didn't return following first intermission because of a lower-body injury, forcing backup Jonathan Bernier into unexpected action.

Perhaps by design, there was a vintage Predators feel to Saturday's game — a scrappy defensive effort that flustered the Ducks. 

“We didn’t want to get into a run-and-gun game with them,” Predators center Vernon Fiddler said. “We knew it was going to be a low-scoring game, (a) 1-0, 2-1 kind of game.”

The Predators' history-making postseason can near its ultimate happy ending Monday at Bridgestone Arena. A whole new world potentially awaits. 

“Facing adversity, we knew that coming into tonight, we knew that we had to just come together, play well defensively, grind it out,” said Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne, who made 32 saves. "I thought that that’s what we did. Showed a lot of character.”

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

PREDATORS vs. DUCKS

Predators lead series 3-2

All games broadcast on 102.5-FM

Game 1: Nashville 3, Anaheim 2 (OT)

Game 2: Anaheim 5, Nashville 3

Game 3: Nashville 2, Anaheim 1

Game 4: Anaheim 3, Nashville 2 (OT)

Game 5: Nashville 3, Anaheim 1

Monday: at Nashville, 7 p.m. (NBC SN)

x — Wednesday: at Anaheim, 8 p.m. (NBC SN)

x — if necessary