The Nashville Predators wrapped up their five game road trip with a win against a young and hungry Anaheim Ducks team, but it was not an easy game for the Predators. Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg, and Michael McCarron scored while Gus Nyquist added an insurance empty net goal to earn the win.
The teams were evenly matched statistically throughout the game with identical numbers of hits, blocked shots, and takeaways, while Anaheim outshot the Predators by just two shots on goal. Neither team could capitalize on special teams chances, and both Kevin Lankinen and Lukas Dostal came up with big saves for their respective teams. The third period goals by Forsberg and McCarron gave Nashville the advantage in an evenly matched game.
Once again, Predators head coach Andrew Brunette started the same lineup that had won the last four games in a row and gave Kevin Lankinen the start in the second game of Nashville's back to back.
Forsberg - O'Reilly - Nyquist
Trenin - Sissons - Glass
Jankowski - Novak - Evangelista
Smith - McCarron - Sherwood
Josi - Fabbro
McDonagh - Schenn
Lauzon - Carrier
Lankinen
Both teams struggled to finish on chances in the first period. Nashville got an opportunity on the power play at 11:15, but couldn't capitalize. Jeremy Lauzon and Sam Carrick dropped the gloves at 17:57 and wrapped up their playing time in the first early with fighting penalties. The teams remained scoreless heading into the locker room after twenty minutes.
Roman Josi got the Predators on the board just a minute into the second period with a shot from the point through traffic and past Lukas Dostal. Less than a minute later, Nashville got their second power play chance but only recorded one shot on goal during the two minutes.
An interference call on Alexandre Carrier gave the Ducks their first opportunity on the power play. Anaheim generated plenty of zone time but didn't get anything past Lankinen. The man advantage gave the Ducks momentum, and just as the power play ended Isac Lundestrom received a pass at the blue line, skated down the slot, and scored at 11:55.
Nashville had two more opportunities on the power play in the second period, both compliments of Radko Gudas, but the Predators couldn't cash in on either. The teams headed into the second intermission tied 1-1.
Anaheim got an early power play in the third period as Kiefer Sherwood sat at :46 for a trip. The Ducks pressured Lankinen during th two minutes. Sherwood saved a goal as soon as he sprung out of the box by clearing a loose puck away from a net front scrum at the end of his penalty.
Filip Forsberg interrupted the Ducks momentum with a goal off the next face off at 3:26 to give the Predators a 2-1 lead. The tempo picked up as both teams pushed for an advantage, and it was Nashville's fourth line that scored as Michael McCarron cleaned up a loose puck at 8:43.
As the game wound down, Anaheim picked up their offensive pressure. With just under three minutes to play, Dostal headed to the bench and the Ducks added the extra attacker. Brett Leason lifted the puck past Lankinen at 17:36 to make it a one goal game. The Ducks won the face off and added an extra attacker again, but Gustav Nyquist corralled the puck and scored an empty net goal at 17:58 to restore the two goal lead.
With just 1:19 left, Roman Josi headed to the penalty box for delay of game. The Ducks opted to leave the net empty and play six on four. Anaheim hit the post and the puck floated along the goal line but Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Lankinen kept it from crossing, and the Predators won by a score of 4-2.
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