Games
Nashville Predators 3 - Anaheim Ducks 2
It didn't take long for the Predators to get the first goal of the series. Nashville managed to get a 3-on-1 rush early in the game, but could not convert on the chance. Seconds after that, Ryan Johansen found James Neal in the slot. Neal one-timed the puck past John Gibson, making it 1-0 for the Predators. Both teams would exchange powerplays, with no success on either side. Nashville got into some penalty trouble late in the period, with Anthony Bitetto and Shea Weber getting penalized 35 seconds apart. The 5-on-3 helped the Ducks tie it up, as Ryan Getzlaf buried a rebound to make it 1-1. Anaheim kept up the pressure for the rest of the period, but could not take the lead. The first period ended with the game tied 1-1. It was Anaheim's turn to open a period with a quick goal. Andrew Cogliano's rink-wide pass found Ryan Kelser, who proceeded to snap the puck past Pekke Rinne. The Predators pressed back, looking to tie the game. It took a while, but eventually Nashville got the equalizer. An odd-man rush led to Colin Wilson redirecting Ryan Ellis' pass into the Ducks net. Anaheim had a chance to once again take the lead late in the period. Jamie McGinn pounced on a rebound and had a fairly open net to shoot at, but could not get enough on the shot. Ellis slid in to block. It became mayhem in the crease after that, with the Ducks looking to jam the puck in and the Predators trying to prevent that. The puck would not cross the line, meaning the game was still tied. The second period ended tied, with the Ducks and Predators knotted up at 2-2. Play would go back-and-forth for a bit in the third, but it wasn't until midway through the period when the deadlock was broken. Filip Forsberg caused a turnover in his defense zone and skated up ice with the puck. He skated over the Ducks blueline and tried to find Craig Smith with a pass. The pass would bank off a Ducks defender and past Gibson, putting the Predators in the lead. Anaheim looked to respond late, but even with Gibson pulled, could not tie the game again. Nashville held on to win 3-2, going up 1-0 in the series as a result.
Nashville Predators 3 - Anaheim Ducks 2
Unlike last game, it was a while before a goal was scored. No team could establish much control early on, and when Anaheim looked to have their attack rolling, Corey Perry had back-to-back penalties. Nashville's powerplay was ineffective though, as the game remained 0-0. Cogliano would open the scoring 14 minutes into the period, skating in on a partial breakaway and sliding the puck past Rinne. Just under a minute left in the period, Matthias Ekholm backhanded a shot past Gibson and into the net, tying the game. Like last game, the first period ended with both teams tied 1-1. Chances were exchanged in the second, but the tiebreaking goal didn't happened until the midway point of the period. Smith received a pass in the slot and snapped it, going top corner on Gibson. Again, a late goal would be scored, but this time it wasn't a tying one. A powerplay late in the second saw Weber tee one up from the point and blast it past Gibson. The second period ended with Nashville up 3-1. Anaheim turned it up in the third, looking to close the gap. It wont happen until late in the period, when Nate Thompson's backhand beat Rinne. The remaining 2:42 would not be enough for the Ducks to tie the game. The Predators once again hung on to in 3-2, and doubled their series lead.
Anaheim Ducks 3 - Nashville Predators 0
Looking to shake things up, Frederik Andersen got the start for the Ducks. Shots would be exchanged in the first, but the first goal wasn't scored until the midway point of the period. A turnover in the offensive zone saw Shawn Horcoff and McGinn connect for the opening goal (with McGinn being the finisher). The Ducks got a powerplay moments later, but failed to score on it. The Predators would get their own powerplay late in the period, but ran out of time. The score remained 1-0 for Anahiem after 20 minutes. Nashville continued on the powerplay to start the second, and continued to pressure even after the man advantage expired. Yet, Andersen was there, preventing the Predators from finding the back of the net. It took over ten minutes in the period for the Ducks to register a shot on net. While their first shot was stopped, their second shot (that happened moment later) went in, as
Rickard Rakell redirected Sami Vatanen's point shot into the Predators net. Anaheim started to pick it from there, and would extend their lead later in the period. Chris Stewart's backhand beat Rinne, making it 3-0 for the Ducks. The score stayed that way for the rest of the period as both teams entered the break. Again, Nashville controlled the attempts for most of the period, as they looked to break the shutout. Andersen stood tall though, not letting anything past him. He would go on to stop 27 shots in the game, as Anaheim shut out Nashville 3-0 to win their first game of the series.
Anaheim Ducks 4 - Nashville Predators 1
It didn't take long for Anaheim to get on the board in this one. David Perron's shot was stopped, but Getzlaf was there to jam home the rebound, making it 1-0 Ducks. The Predators went on the attack, looking to quickly respond. Their efforts were for naught though, as Anaheim remained up by a goal. Nashville made one more push late in the period (thanks to a powerplay), but again, failed to find the back of the net. Just like last game, the first 20 minutes saw Anaheim head into the intermission up 1-0. Nashville kept up the pressure, and eventually broke their five period goalless drought. Midway through the second, Mike Fisher snapped a shot from the slot past Andersen, tying the game. Both teams would find themselves playing 4-on-4 on two different occasions in the period. Anaheim dominated on the opened up ice, and while they didn't score on the first one, they did on the second. Thompson got the puck near the slot and outwaited Rinne, eventually sliding it past the downed goaltender. The Ducks added one more in the period, as McGinn batted the puck into the Predators' net. The second period ended with Anaheim up 3-1 on Nashville. The Ducks had a man advantage to start the third, but could not capitalize on it. A couple of Ducks penalties help turned the tide in the Predators favour. Nashville pressed to get their second goal, but could not find it. Cogliano added one more for Anaheim. Nashville's chances to get back ended late when Weber got called for roughing. Anaheim went on to win 4-1, tying the series at 2-2.
Nashville Predators 2 - Anaheim Ducks 5
Nashville would have an undisciplined beginning to this game, getting penalized twice in the first eight minutes. Anaheim's powerplay faltered though, failing to open the scoring. The Predators had their turn on the offense in the later half of the period, but could not find the back of the net. Penalties were exchanged late in the period, with 4-on-4 being played in the last minute. The game remained 0-0 after 20 minutes. Chances were exchanged in the second, but it took until the last six minutes of the period for a goal to happen. Johansen would get a pass and proceeded to flick a backhand past Andersen. The Ducks responded seconds later, as a point shot from David Perron was deflected up and fluttered over Rinne and into the net. Two minutes later, Anaheim took the lead. Ryan Garbutt whacked the pack past Rinne from the side of the net, making it 2-1 for the Ducks. The score stayed that way for the rest of the period, as the Ducks went into the intermission ahead by a goal. Despite having a powerplay to start the third, it wasn't until midway through the period when Anaheim struck next. Sami Vatanen would get sprung on a breakaway, skate in, and snap a shot past Rinne's blocker to put the Ducks up by two. The Predators got one back five minutes later. Miikka Salomaki would block a point shot from Weber, but managed to coral the puck and shoot it past Andersen's outstretched pad. Nashville's attack kept up the pressure, but could not find a tying goal. Goals by Fowler and Kesler late in the period sealed the game, as Anaheim went on to in 5-2. The win gave the Ducks a 3-2 series lead, putting them one win away from advancing to the next round.
Anaheim Ducks 1 - Nashville Predators 3
Nashville looked stay alive with a win at home. They had a few offensive spurts in the first, but could not open the scoring. Anaheim also failed to find the back of the net in the first, as once again the opening 20 minutes was played without a goal. The Ducks pressed early in the first, with their best chance coming on a 2-on-1, but came up empty. The Predators would break the deadlock eight minutes in, as Ekholm skated around to the high slot and managed to get his shot through a crowd of bodies and into the Ducks net. Nashville kept up the pressure, but wouldn't get there next goal until ten minutes later, when Johansen and Neal connected on a 2-on-1. Neal's goal made it 2-0 for the home squad. Anaheim put on the pressure to end the period, and had their efforts rewarded. A weird bounce kept the puck in the offensive zone, and allowed Fowler to take a shot from the point. Perry tipped the shot, but Rinne managed to stop it. Not all of it though, as the puck trickled behind him, and Kesler dove in to whack the loose puck into the net. The second period still ended with Nashville in the lead, but they were only up 2-1. Anaheim got chances in the third to tie it up. Despite their best efforts, Rinne was solid, keeping everything out of the net. Weber capped off the game with an empty netter. The 3-1 win helped Nashville tie the series and force a Game Seven.
Nashville Predators 2 - Anaheim Ducks 1
Anaheim jumped out on the attack early, with Nashville countering a minute later. The Predators got the first goal six minutes in, as Wilson managed to control a bouncing puck and put a backhand over Andersen. The Predators had a chance to extend their lead when the Ducks got into some penalty trouble, but could not do so. A few minutes after the powerplays expired, Nashville would strike. Paul Gaustad tipped Weber's point shot into Anaheim's net, doubling the lead. The Ducks effort late in the period was for all for naught, as the Predators ended the first period up 2-0. An early powerplay in the second gave the Ducks a chance to get on the board. McGinn had the Ducks best chance, with Rinne down and the net mostly open, but could not get a proper shot off and the puck went out of play. Anaheim kept it up throughout the period, but even with another powerplay, could not beat Rinne. The second period ended the same as the first, with Nashville up by two goals. The Ducks only again had a powerplay early in the period, and this time they converted. A tic-tac-toe play saw Kesler finish off the play by snapping the puck past Rinne. Anaheim got another powerplay moments later, but was not as successful on that one. The Ducks had multiple chances and close calls in the period, but Rinne did all he could to not let a second goal happen. Rinne won out in the end, as he stopped 36 of 37 shots. Nashville beat Anaheim 2-1, winning the seventh game to move on to Round Two.
Three Thoughts on the Series
- Poor Bruce Boudreau.
- I'm starting to think John Gibson isn't the goalie Anaheim thinks he is.
- This might have been the only true upset of the first round (with respects to Sharks-Kings and Islanders-Panthers)
Sad Boudreau is sad.
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| I regret not getting a better screen cap |
Highlight of the Series
Colin Wilson scores to put Nashville up 1-0 in Game Seven.
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