If the Predators' top line can crack a young but skilled Ducks' defense, Nashville could take the series.
Despite yet another slow start, and an eventual OT loss, the Ducks looked far better in game 1 than I expected they would. Anaheim hasn't made the final round in a decade despite icing one of the NHL's most consistently strong teams, while the Predators are in their first conference finals in the club's 10th trip to the postseason since 2004.
After 10 consecutive seasons of unrelenting mediocrity, and no playoff appearances, the Oilers established themselves this season as one of the NHL's top-tier franchises, tying for seventh overall in the regular season and taking the Anaheim Ducks to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals. In the second round, Neal potted three goals, one of which was a game-winner, and he's got a history of showing up against the Ducks. "So just take advantage of it. Know what's at stake". "It's, obviously, a team that's playing outstanding in the playoffs", Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf following the close-out win over the Oilers.
If the Predators tweak their face-off game a bit and come out on fire Sunday night as they did in Game 1, they may find themselves two wins away from a Stanley Cup Final berth heading back to the Music City. Coach Randy Carlyle noted that the Ducks got off to a sluggish start - they were outshot 15-6 in the first period - and that can not happen again. "For an inexperienced team right from Day 1, that's a good sign for us going forward".
"They are the team that put us out last season", Kesler said. "We were good to go". This is Nashville's first go around in the third round.
"Well, I don't think that we can afford to have the start that we had today", Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle explained in his postgame press conference.
The Ducks offense is balanced, as they have gotten major contributions from multiple players. They've combined for the best two records in this postseason, losing only five combined games.
Getzlaf pointed out the obvious issue - "Well, we're not scoring", he said - and listed their need to battle harder and execute better around the net. On Friday, those two, as well as Subban and Mattias Ekholm were all relied upon heavily in that situation.
Ducks overcome early deficit, stingy Predators goalie to tie series
Si Woo Kim of South Korea became the youngest victor of The Players Championship with a game and nerves well beyond his 21 years. Halfway through the period, the Ducks did what they do best and created havoc in front of the Nashville net.
Anaheim took a 1-0 lead on Silfverberg's unassisted goal, his eighth of the playoffs, at 5:15 of the opening period.
The Ducks have excelled with youth on the blue line. Still, it wasn't until the 13th shot when Nashville's shooters finally hit their target, with Filip Forsberg redirecting a point shot that tied the game 1-1.
How it happened: The well-rested Predators, who had three more days off than the Ducks, had their legs moving early. So they were unified Saturday in their message toward the approach for Game 2.
"We basically got a college degree in a month when it comes to the playoffs", McLellan said. Carlyle has warned his players to think of Rinne as a third defenseman on the ice capable of starting a rush with a breakout pass. For a fleeting moment two minutes into the game, the overhead scoreboards listed the Ducks as having 99 shots on goal instead of the one they actually had at that point.
"We just stayed with it", Josi said. Prior to Game 1, Anaheim had out-traveled Nashville by almost five-to-one - 7,924 miles to the Predators 1,635.
While Rinne appears to be at the peak of his skills again, his counterpart still has something to prove. In the first round, the Nashville Predators upset the Anaheim Ducks in seven games.
Kesler and linemates Jakob Silfverberg and Andrew Cogliano did a stellar defensive job against Connor McDavid in the second round. "We've got 20 guys in here on a nightly basis during the game that can play and contribute".
ANAHEIM The Ducks didn't feel they lost to all the Nashville Predators in last year's first-round series. It came off the sweetest P.K. Subban play, where he faked the shot, then set it on a tee for Neal to hammer home.
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