In Anaheim, the Nashville Predators ended a five-game roadie with a 4-2 win over the Ducks on Sunday.
The win also ended a three-game losing skid to Anaheim this season.
Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves in the win.
“We kind of realized what we need to do to be a winning team, and this was a huge week for us playing some good opponents on the road,” Lankinen said. “Boys are feeling good, but still being humble and keeping working at it, so we’re looking forward to what’s coming next.”
The Predators moved to 32-25-2.
“We’re really playing for each other through this stretch of games,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. “That was a really gutsy effort tonight on a hard back-to-back at the end of a road trip where you can lose your focus.”
Following a scoreless opening stanza, Roman Josi scored with 60 seconds gone in the middle frame for a 1-0 lead to the Predators.
Anaheim replied with a marker from Isac Lundestrom at 11:55 to tie the game, 1-1.
“It was two good plays,” Lundestrom said. “[Leason] first off the board and then [Jones] with a good spin-o-rama there, and I was wide open in the middle.”
The Ducks dropped to 20-35-3) off their third straight loss.
“We deserved a better fate. That hurts,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “We played them better this game than we did the other two games, and we won them.”
Filip Forsberg reclaimed the lead for Nashville,2-1, at 3:26 of the third period.
“They had two floater shots that go in,” Cronin said. “That hurts. That’s a game we could have won.”
The Predators pushed the lead to 3-1when Michael McCarron scored at 8:43.
“I think it ruffled some feathers in our room,” he said. “It just goes to show our leadership and our coaching staff and our younger guys, we all pulled the same rope on this road trip. It was tough with the time change and everything, and it feels amazing coming out of this trip undefeated.”
The road trip was highlighted by the scoring from across the bench with 15 different skaters hitting for the goals.
“The big line has been great all year,” Brunette said. “Scored a big goal tonight, but it’s nice to see those other lines starting to come a little bit.”
Anaheim responded with a goal from Brett Leason 17:38, trimming the deficit to 3-2.
Gustav Nyquist hit an empty net with 2:02 left on the game clock for the 4-2 final count on the scoreboard.
Lukas Dostal made 25 saves in the loss.
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