NASHVILLE, Tenn – Teemu Selanne won a faceoff midway through the first period and off a scramble down low in the corner he skated behind the Predators net and came out the other side firing a backhand shot toward the net. The puck found the back of the net for a 1-0 lead for the Ducks. For Selanne it was his sixth of the post season.
More importantly, for the NHL and Selanne, the question is whether or not it was his last goal.
The question was raised when the Predators posted a 4-2 win and a 4-2 series win over Selanne’s Ducks of Anaheim.
For the Ducks, the real problem was containing the combo of Jordin Tootoo and Nick Spalling on Sunday. With less than 30 seconds left in the first period, Tootoo set up in what is becoming his on-ice office, in the corner, and fed a perfect pass to Spalling who netted the equalizer at 19:32. For Spalling it was his first of the post season.
Steve Sullivan danced his way past the Ducks defense in the second to give the Predators a 2-1 lead. His goal came at 3:29 and sent the Nashville crowd into a frenzy. It was Sullivan’s second of the series.
Both teams battled through most of the rest of the middle frame until Nashville’s J-P Dumont went off for tripping. Jason Blake made the Predators pay for the infraction when he tipped a Bobby Ryan shot from the right circle.
Heading to the locker room and the third period the Ducks had momentum on their side and the hope of returning home for a game seven.
At 4:53 of the third period, Spalling scored what would become one of the biggest goals in franchise history for Nashville.
Predators goalie Pekka Rinne came far out of his crease to clear the puck up high to a breaking Tootoo who skated in on Ray Emery in net. His shot was rebounded out to the right slot and Spalling roofed the puck for 3-2 Nashville lead.
Somewhat poetically, the game was iced by Nashville’s first ever first round draft pick, David Legwand, when he fired into the empty Ducks net with 10 seconds left in the contest. It was a power play goal and gave Legwand some relief from gaffs earlier in the series.
A crowd of 17,113 screaming, crying Nashville fans witnessed franchise history Sunday as the Predators move on to the second round.
So the question is will Teemu Selanne end a fabulous career or return for one more season?
For Predators’ fans, this team is now heading for uncharted waters in the post season. The fans should enjoy the ride. This is a side that plays with energy and excitement so lacking elsewhere in sports. And Jordin Tootoo deserves some of the credit for the enthusiasm on the ice.
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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