ANAHEIM, Cali – Facing a deep 2-0 series hole if they were to lose Friday night, the Anaheim Ducks came out strong in this second game of their quarter final series with Nashville. The Predators displayed their defensive strengths in game one taking the match 4-1 and grabbing home ice from the Ducks.
Another performance like game one and Anaheim would head to Tennessee down by two games.
But game two was a different story early as the Ducks put on a defensive clinic and Corey Perry supported the cause with a power play tally at 5:24 of the first.
Teemu Selanne continued the scoring for Anaheim when he banged in his second of the series on the man-advantage less than a minute later at 6:02.
Both clubs had their special teams units working in the game through the seocnd period and Nashville closed the gap at 4:29 of the second. Shea Weber got the Preds back in the game on the power play with a second-chance shot from a sharp angle that eluded Ray Emery.
Sensing the shift in the game’s momentum, the Ducks pressed to defuse the Predators’ surge following the Weber goal.
Bobby Ryan responded to the Predators’ goal less than three minutes later by picking up a rebound from a Ryan Getzlaf shot on Pekka Rinne. Ryan had rushed the net as Getzlaf took the shot and banged the rebound home for a 3-1 lead for the Ducks.
Getzlaf who had two assists heading into the latter stages of the middle frame added his own goal to the sheet when he wristed a shot by Rinne at the 15:54 mark of the period. His goal made it 4-1 and put breathing room between the Ducks and their tormentors.
Through two periods the Predators outshot the Ducks 25-21.
Nashville came out in the third period running and gunning and picked up a power play early. Luca Sbisa was sent to the box early for roughing. Patric Holmqvist converted the man advantage at 1:30 to cut the deficit in half at 4-2.
Continuing to press their cause, the Predators’ Joel Ward wristed an unassisted shot by Emery at the 10:17 mark of the third cutting the Ducks’ lead to one goal at 4-3.
Despite the offensive push from the Predators, the Ducks were able to cie the game at 19:07 of the third when Ryan netted his second of the game in an empty net.
So the Ducks head to Nashville having tied the series at one game apiece and avoid losing two at home. More importantly they head onto the road with the momentum of the win behind them. Though now they face the Predators on their home ice, where visitors have had serious issues.
But Nashville and Rinne in particular, will need to play better to face down the Ducks.
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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