NHL postseason opening round quick hits: Ducks vs. Predators

Vitals
Anaheim: (46-25-11) 1st in Pacific Division
Nashville: (41-27-14) 4th in Central Division

Season Series
Nashville took two out of three games against Anaheim this season.

Looking at the Matchup
The Ducks appear to have returned to being a favorite to making a deep playoff run after they rebounded midseason from a ghastly October through December. Despite losing a handful of players to injuries — including difference-makers David Perron and Rickard Rakell — before the final week of the regular season, Anaheim reportedly has most of its pieces back and healthy awaiting the series opener against the Preds.

It will take more than just healthy bodies, however, to tango with this Nashville team. The Predators have a smothering defense in front of Pekka Rinne, who played like his old vintage self at the end of this campaign following a bit of a midseason slump. Their offense promises to challenge Anaheim's netminding tandem of Frederik Andersen and John Gibson, who both suffered injuries toward the end of the regular season.

Quotables
"You know it’s a fact that (the) goalie plays a big role in the playoffs. For some guys, it helps if you start putting more pressure on yourself, but I try not to put too much extra pressure on myself. Just try to believe in my skill and what I can do.” —Pekka Rinne, goaltender, Nashville Predators ( via The Tennessean)