Ducks tie West final against Predators

Anaheim erased an early two-goal deficit to avoid falling into a 2-0 series hole Sunday night, following a pattern that saw it storm back from three goals down against Calgary and Edmonton in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Jakob Silfverberg, Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie scored to give the Ducks the lead, after the Predators had gone 2-0 and 3-2 ahead.

The Predators were always able to remain in touch with goalie Pekka Rinne making 19 saves for the win, with the Ducks’ John Gibson blocking 38 shots. After losing game one of the Western Conference Finals at home they bounced back to win game two.

In the last minute of the period, the Ducks found their chance to get on the board during a power play.

Ritchie’s goal against the Predators came after center Ryan Getzlaf one-touched defenseman Brandon Montour’s stretch pass into the Predators zone. “We need to play the same way, and they’re going to go in some time”. We expect Getzy and our top-end guys to continue to produce.

Said Kesler to Sportsnet’s Christine Simpson: “He’s a skilled player and I play the game hard”.

“I think it’s great”, the winger said of the victory.

The defense corps is having an impact on the scoresheet. Kessel has five goals, Bonino a game-winner and Schultz has filled the void with top defensemen Kris Letang and Daley out. Five points from the JoFA line and James Neal scoring his 5th of the playoffs.

Ritchie also scored the victor in game seven against the Edmonton Oilers to advance the Ducks to the National Hockey League semi-finals.

The Predators had tied it at 1-1 with 16:06 left in the third after Filip Forsberg pounced on a rebound from a Ryan Ellis shot to thread the puck through a crowded crease for the score.

Four days later, he got his next major goal on an exceptional high shot that appeared to glance off Rinne’s mask on the way in. Josi ended that drought with his wrister from the right circle off an assist from Viktor Arvidsson.

His ability to respond after a defeat has mirrored his team.

The U.S. moved to the top of Group A, one point ahead of Russian Federation, which has a game in hand.

If I’m miss reading that and “keeping his opposition in check” is getting pulled from two games, and giving up 34 goals in 13 games, then, and only then, will we be on the same page.

Subban for Weber looked like a long-term steal for the Predators as they got a younger, more mobile puck-moving defenseman in part because Montreal preferred a safer style of play.

“So nobody should expect to go through the playoffs and not ever lose a game. And our guys have been pretty good at that”. In overtime, it was right there for the taking.

The Ducks worked their tails off as given by the multiple goals scored.

The Predators didn’t hold back on star power for the biggest game in franchise history.

“There are times when goal scorers probably see things better”, Laviolette said.

Perhaps most beneficial in the long run is that Gibson’s cap hit is just $2.3 million this season – and it will stay that way until the summer of 2019. Game 3 and Game 4 are Tuesday and Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. If Zolnierczyk draws in, Vernon Fiddler could come out. Since this was a comeback win there was lots of physical play as well.