SB Nation NHL 2011 NHL Playoffs, Predators Vs. Ducks
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The Anaheim Ducks evened their series with the Nashville Predators with a 5-3 win on Friday night.
The Anaheim Ducks are 20 minutes away from evening the series with the Nashville Predators after another two goal period. Anaheim gave one back early, but were dominant from then-on, taking a commanding, 4-1 lead into the final period. It's looking as though the Ducks have this one all but wrapped up, though much can change over the final 20 minutes.
Shea Weber got the Predators on the board just over four minutes into the period with a power play goal, cutting the Anaheim lead to 2-1. Sergei Kostitsyn and Mike Fisher were credited with the assists and the Predators had new life all of a sudden. Nashville had been completely deflated over a 30 second span in the first period as Anaheim buried back-to-back power play goals to take the early 2-0 lead.
But Nashville's momentum was short-lived as Anaheim answered back two-fold. Bobby Ryan found the back of the net just three minutes after Weber's goal to put the Ducks back up by two. Ryan Getzlaf and Francois Beauchemin got the assists on Ryan's goal.
Eight minutes later it was the Ducks again, this time coming at the end of a power play. Just as Blake Geoffrion came charging out of the box, Ryan Getzlaf beat Pekka Rinne to make it 4-1, with assists from Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin.
What began as a promising period ended in deflation as Anaheim took a three-goal advantage into the break, 4-1.
For more on this game, visit On The Forecheck, our Predators blog, or Anaheim Calling, our Anaheim blog.
Power plays proved to be the bane of the Nashville Predators as the Anaheim Ducks made them pay for their transgressions in the first period. Two penalties, called within 48 seconds of each other, put Nashville in a hole while giving Anaheim a 5-on-3 advantage. Martin Erat was up first, whistled for slashing just 3:30 into the game. Shortly thereafter, Shane O'Brien joined him in the box after getting called for the same penalty.
Anaheim scored in the waning seconds of a 5-on-3 as Corey Perry buried a one-timer in front of the net, preserving the power play and putting the Ducks up 1-0 just five minutes into the game. Saku Koivu and Lubomir Visnovsky were credited with the assists.
Just 38 seconds later, Teemu Selanne made it a two-fer, cleaning up a rebound and burying the follow to put Anaheim up 2-0, leaving the Predators reeling. Cam Fowler and Ryan Getzlaf got the assists on Selanne's goal.
Lubomir Visnovsky was involved in a scary moment at center ice with four minutes to play in the period. As Visnovsky was headed for the puck, he collided with a teammate, immediately crumpling to the ice hard after a full-speed, head-on collision. Visnovsky was forced to leave the game as he was helped off the ice.
Penalties were the story of the first as power plays were aplenty for both teams. Nashville got its first power play as Lubomir Visnovsky was whistled for slashing, but were unable to take advantage. Just as the Predators advantage was ending, David Legwand was sent to the box for tripping, but Anaheim was unable to take advantage. Toni Lydman and Legwand, who just came back onto the ice after his first penalty, were both sent to the box within seconds of each other as the Predators and Ducks played a bit of 4-on-4 hockey.
Both sides had 12 shots, with Anaheim putting two in the back of the net and Nashville none.
For more on this game, visit On The Forecheck, our Predators blog, or Anaheim Calling, our Anaheim blog.
Ducks Vs. Predators Final Score: Anaheim Survives Late Run To Secure 5-3 Win
The Anaheim Ducks took a 4-1 lead into the third period and appeared to be on their way to evening the series with the Nashville Predators. But the Predators had something to say about it and mounted a furious comeback over the final 20 minutes, creating some nervous moments for the Ducks.
Anaheim scored two in the first -- Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne each scored on a power play -- to take an early 2-0 lead. Nashville got one back in the second, only to see the Ducks score another two in the second period to head into the final 20 minutes with a three-goal lead, 4-1.
In the third, Patric Hornqvist cut the Predator's deficit to two with an early goal, 4-2. Joel Ward followed up Hornqvist's goal with one of his own halfway through the period to pull Nashville within striking distance at 4-3, setting up a wild final 10 minutes.
Nashville put the Ducks under-fire, spending an inordinate amount of time in the Anaheim zone over the final four minutes, but were unable to penetrate the defense. After the Predators pulled their goal with 90 seconds to go, Bobby Ryan was able to escape the zone to score the empty net goal and add insurance as the Ducks took a 5-3 lead.
The result held and Anaheim evened the series at one with a 5-3 win over Nashville. Ryan scored two goals, with Ryan Getzlaf, Selanne and Perry each adding another for the Ducks. Shea Weber, Hornqvist and Ward each scored for the Predators. Nashville out-shot the Ducks, 34-28, but couldn't pull-out the result.
For more on this game, visit On The Forecheck, our Predators blog, or Anaheim Calling, our Anaheim blog.
Apr 16 1:14a by Brian Floyd - 0 comments