The Anaheim Ducks have revenge on their minds on Saturday facing their postseason tormentors, the Nashville Predators, in the third game of a seven-game road trip. The Preds eliminated the Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in April in six games.
The Ducks had a golden opportunity in their first-round series, holding a 3-2 lead at Honda Center with less than a minute remaining in the third period of Game 5. Instead of taking a 3-2 series lead, the Ducks surrendered a goal to Shea Weber with 36 seconds remaining in regulation, then another goal less than two minutes into overtime to Jerred Smithson. The Ducks fell behind 3-2 in the series, then were eliminated in Nashville two days later with a 4-2 loss. This is the first trip back to Nashville for the Ducks since their elimination.
The first two games of the Ducks' seven-game, 13-day road trip have resulted in 3-2 contests. Anaheim lost in a shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, but rebounded with a win over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Teemu Selanne assisted on all three goals in Thursday's triumph, and leads Anaheim with nine points this season. The 41-year old Selanne is currently tied for 13th place in NHL history with Dave Andreychuk with 640 career goals.
Center Ryan Getzlaf, who had a power play tally against the Wild on Thursday, has a three-game goal scoring streak, and has scored four goals in those last three contests. Right wing and reigning NHL MVP Corey Perry began the year with no points in his first three games, but has at least one point in his last six contests, totaling four goals and three assists during that span.
After a four-game losing streak, Nashville has won two of their last three games. In four home contests at Bridgestone Arena this season, the Predators are 1-2-1 and have allowed 14 goals in four contests.
Saturday's 5 p.m. PDT game will be televised on KDOC. For more Ducks news and information, be sure to read Anaheim Calling.