Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Martin Erat scored on a penalty shot and Craig Smith recorded three points to lift the Nashville Predators to a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Smith scored twice and assisted on Colin Wilson's tally, while Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for the Predators, who have won three of four.
Cam Fowler and Francois Beauchemin each lit the lamp for the Ducks, who got 28 saves from Jonas Hiller in the club's sixth straight loss. Smith scored from below the left goal line 1:20 into the game and set up Wilson's goal, which actually went off Ducks defenseman Saku Koivu's stick, just 3:34 later.
Fowler got Anaheim on the board with 38.6 seconds left in the opening period, but Erat restored the two-goal lead when he beat Hiller up high on a penalty shot at 12:48 of the middle stanza. Ducks defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky was whistled for hooking to set up the one-on-one opportunity.
Beauchemin stuffed one in with 5:48 left in the second, but Smith's goal off a nice feed from Wilson 1:36 into the third accounted for the final margin.
Game Notes
The Predators have won four straight meetings against Anaheim...The Ducks went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Nashville was scoreless in three chances with the man advantage.
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