*Photo from TSN*
The Predators are on the hunt, so they dialed up the offense. Filip Forsberg had a 3 point game, Colton Sissons added a goal and an assist, and the Nashville Predators cruised past the Anaheim Ducks with a 6-1 victory on Friday afternoon in Anaheim.
Nashville hopes this can serve as a positive for them, with this win going as just their 3rd in 11 games. 6 different skaters found the back of the net as they snapped a two game losing streak in the first of a two game west coast road trip. Sissons, Jusso Parssinen and Forsberg recorded multipoint games.
Predators head coach John Hynes said that "I thought tonight we were hungry to get rebounds, to look to score, to screen the goalie, and that makes a big difference; being there versus being there with a purpose. I thought tonight we were there with a purpose."
Sissons provided the only goal of the first period, giving the Predators a 1-0 lead on his 4th goal of the season, assisted by Forsberg. Sam Carrick scored for the Ducks just 2:20 into the second period, tying the game 1-1. Forsberg and Yakov Trenin scored later in the second to give the Predators a 3-1 lead after two periods.
Nashville ripped off another 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd period. First it was Thomas Novak on his second goal of the season. Roman Josi then added a power play goal with Forsberg and Parssinen assisting. Nino Niederreiter capped off the scoring with just 13 seconds to play, sealing up a 6-1 win for Nashville.
Forsberg said after the game that "We're almost halfway through the season, and I don't think we've played our best hockey yet, but this is a step in the right direction. Our offensive zone work was good, especially in the second period. There's been something missing there this season, so it was good to get that going."
Juuse Saros got the start in net for the Predators, improving to 12-10-5 on the season with a win. Saros stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced from the Ducks, good for a .963 save percentage in a rebound game.
It was John Gibson starting in goal for the Ducks, who got hit hard. Gibson was responsible for 6 goals while making 37 saves, good for just a .860 save percentage. With the loss, Gibson now has a 6-15-3 record this season.
Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins said that "We're trying to develop players on the fly. We're doing our best to compete every night, and, when you are a team like that, you can't make mistakes, and you certainly cannot do things by yourself. We can't have guys being single contractors. You need your teammates, and you have to play the system so we can have some success. That's where it got away from us tonight."
The Predators finish a back to back on Saturday afternoon against the Vegas Golden Knights, with Kevin Lankinen getting the start in goal. Lukas Dostal is the projected starter for the Ducks against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.
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