Anaheim Ducks Lose Another Game 7, Nashville Predators Advance

Colin Wilson (C) of the Nashville Predators skates past team's bench after scoring a goal
AFP
Mary Chastain

The Anaheim Ducks lost their fourth straight Game 7 when the Nashville Predators defeated them 2-1 Wednesday night.

The Predators will face the San Jose Sharks in the second round while the Ducks prepare for long summer nights.

The game almost mirrored the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning game. The Ducks dominated the majority of the game, except the first period. The Predators outshot the Ducks 10-9 and received two goals from Colin Wilson and Paul Gaustad.

Wilson scored after he swept the puck away from Simon Depres, who could not control it.

Gaustad put the puck past goalie Frederik Andersen from the blue line with just a flick of the wrist.

However, the Ducks came out in the second and third with fire on their skates, forcing Predators goalie Pekka Rinne to keep his team in the game. The Ducks had three power plays in the second period, but could not capitalize on any of them.

“He [Rinne] was really good,” praised Predators head coach Peter Laviolette. “If you think that you need four wins to get out, and if you think about the four wins, you could consider him one of the best players on the ice. He was outstanding. He looked solid to me. He looked from the start tonight that he was right on top of his game.”

Ryan Kesler cut the lead in half on a power play goal only two minutes into the third period.

In the end, the Ducks put 15 shots on Rinne in the third, but he remained sharp. The Predators only managed four shots on goal in the third.

The final horn went and the Ducks were gone for good.

The Ducks have only won two of their last six Game 7 games. It turns out their Honda Center is really their house of pain since they are 1-4 at home in those games.

This was the Predators first Game 7 in their history and their first playoff series win since 2012.

“It’s a big step,” said Laviolette. “I feel that if you can’t take this one step, you can’t take any more steps. That makes it a really big win for our guys and for our team. When you’re faced with these situations, you’re either going home or going on and playing hockey to continue to fight for the Cup. It was a big night.”

They face off against the San Jose Sharks on Friday at 10:30 p.m. Eastern.

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