<p>RALEIGH, N.C. — Jordan Staal scored off a rebound at 1:44 of overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night for a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series.</p>
<p>Staal was jostling with Nashville’s Ryan Johansen for position just outside the crease when Brett Pesce fired a shot toward Juuse Saros on a 4-on-4 sequence. Saros made the stop and poked the puck forward, but Carolina’s captain batted the puck out of the air and past Saros to seal the win.</p>
<p>Staal’s score ended what was the third straight game to go to extra time, with the Predators winning a pair of grueling double-overtime contests in Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven series. This one, however, moved the Hurricanes within a win of closing it out and advancing in the postseason.</p>
<p>They’ll get that chance on the road in Game 6 on Thursday night.</p>
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<p>Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap">http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap</a></p>
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