Nashville Predators Fall To Anaheim Ducks In Shootout

The Predators fielded the same lineup as the night before with one major exception, Carter Hutton was in net for Nashville.

The game was very back and forth for the first 10 minutes, this included Hutton making a huge glove save to deny Ryan Getzlaf on a near breakaway and the Predators out shooting the Ducks 7-5.

The Ducks opened scoring for the night after 12:15 of play when Matt Beleskey potted his 17th goal of the year. Filip Forsberg turned over the puck near the blue line as Ryan Kesler picked up the puck before making a tape-to-tape pass to Beleskey for the 1-0 lead.

The period came to an end with Hutton stopping a total of six shots in the final three minutes of the first period. In total,  after 20 minutes of play the Ducks out shot the Predators 14-9 and neither team took a penalty.

The Predators started off the second period by finally getting on the board. 1:38 into the middle frame Forsberg moved the puck to Mike Ribeiro near the blue line to pass the puck to an open Mattias Ekholm, who blasted a one-timer past Frederik Andersen.

The tie-game wouldn’t last long as the Ducks would take the 2-1 lead exactly 74 seconds after Ekholm’s goal. Getzlaf made a beautiful drop pass to Rene Bourque who threw the puck towards Hutton but Corey Perry was able to redirect the shot and tip the puck past Hutton.

The first power play of the game would come 5:44 into the second period, Predator Mike Fisher was sent to the sin bin after tripping up Andrew Cogliano. Luckily the Predators were able to shut down the Ducks’ 23rd ranked power play, allowing no shots on goal for the entire two minutes.

The Predators would get their chance on the power play when Francois Beauchemin was called for cross checking Viktor Stalberg. Nashville’s power play looked great and was very effective, after Ribeiro and Ryan Ellis move the puck to the point Seth Jones was able to sneak the puck past Andersen just 1:09 into the power play.

Nashville would have another chance to shine on the power play when Perry took the bold risk of tripping Shea Weber with 4:28 left in the period. After a frustrating start to the power play Ellis was able to fire a rocket on net and Craig Smith was there to bury the rebound, giving Nashville their first lead of the game.

Nashville would soon be back on the power play, for the third time in less than 15:00 minutes of play. Tim Jackman was given a 2:00 minor for elbowing Paul Gaustad in the neutral zone. The Predators would have a couple chances but were not able to put the puck past Andersen. Luckily, Andersen would nearly mug Fisher in front of the Ducks’ net with 0:04 left on Jackman’s penalty. This would give the Predators a brief 3-on-5 and another chance on the power play. The Predators ended the second period with some excitement and scoring chances but would head to the locker room with a 3-2 lead on the NHL’s top ranked team.

The Predators started the third period off with a power play but were unable to convert. Then with 17:08 to play in the game, Ekholm was called for holding Beleskey. The Ducks had a couple of great chances on the man advantage but Hutton and the Predators were able to keep the puck out of the net.

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Through the first seven minutes of the period the Ducks out shot the Predators 6-1. The Ducks got another chance to test the Predators 15th ranked penalty kill when Olli Jokinen was called for slashing Perry. The Predators were successful in killing the penalty, limiting the Ducks to one shot on their power play.

As the third period played on the game became more and more physical, and the Ducks were getting more and more chances.

After 17:43 of play the Ducks buried the equalizer. Belesky and Nate Thompson assisted on a goal by Beauchemin.

This game was destined to be a barn burner, and the Predators and Ducks headed into overtime.

Both teams quickly created chances in the five minute overtime, testing both Hutton and Andersen.

At the end of the scoreless overtime period the Predators posted five shots to Anaheim’s zero.

Josi started off the shootout but was unable to put the biscuit in the basket.

Perry was first up for the Ducks and was blocked by Hutton.

Ellis was up next for the Predators but was denied by Andersen.

Jacob Silfverberg was next for the Ducks and was the first player to score in the shootout.

Smith was next for Nashville and scored on a beauty of a move.

Ryan Kesler was the Ducks last shooter and was successful in burying the game winning goal on Hutton.

In the end, the Predators played a great second period but weren’t strong in the opening or the closing periods to beat the NHL’s top ranked team.