NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators still have hockey to play in this postseason.

Scoring three goals in a 2:27 span early in the third period Thursday night, Nashville staved off elimination in Game 5 of its Western Conference quarterfinal series with the Chicago Blackhawks, posting a 5-2 decision.

Left winger James Neal broke a 1-1 tie 47 seconds into the final period with a wraparound, his second goal in as many games. Center Colin Wilson made it 3-1 at 3:02, potting his fifth goal of the series 32 seconds after defenseman Michal Rozsival went to the penalty box for interfering center Matt Cullen.

Center Filip Forsberg finished the onslaught 12 seconds later with his second goal of the game as the standing-room only crowd of 17,238 inside Bridgestone Arena erupted, banging gold balloon sticks together.

Left winger Kris Versteeg pulled Chicago within a pair at 14:52 with his first goal of the playoffs off a terrific backhand pass by right winger Patrick Kane, but Forsberg iced the outcome with an empty-net tally at 19:49, the first hat trick of his career.

Goalie Pekka Rinne finished with 28 saves for the Predators, who will go back to Chicago on Saturday night for Game 6 despite the probable loss of star defenseman and captain Shea Weber. Injured in Game 2 after a hit into the boards by left winger Brandon Saad, Weber hasn't played since and the severity of the "lower-body injury," believed to be a knee, is unknown.

After nearly 9 1/2 minutes of uninterrupted play early in the first period, center Brad Richards put the Blackhawks ahead with a wrister that squeaked through Rinne's legs at 13:27. It was Richards' first goal of the series.

Forsberg equalized just 75 seconds later, taking a loose puck off a faceoff and shoveling a forehand shot past goalie Scott Darling.

The series' story after replacing ineffective starter Corey Crawford in Game 1 and stopping 42 shots in a double overtime victory, then winning Games 3 and 4, Darling made 24 saves in suffering his first postseason loss.

NOTES: Nashville C Mike Fisher (lower-body injury) returned to the lineup after a three-game absence. He was injured early in the second period of Game 1. ... Tuesday night/Wednesday morning's triple-OT win was the 102nd career playoff victory for Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville, ranking him third in NHL history. ... D Roman Josi played a franchise-record 45:06 in the Predators' triple-OT loss in Game 4.