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 The Ducks scored three goals in the first 10 minutes to earn a 4-2
win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night at the Honda
Center.
Right winger Chris Stewart accumulated a goal and two assists as the
Ducks (2-7-2) broke a five-game losing streak. Center Rickard Rakell
and defenseman Sami Vatanen each added a goal and an assist, and
goalie Frederik Andersen made 40 saves for his first win of the
season.
"Obviously, it's a relief," Rakell said about the win. "We've been
talking about letdowns and having trouble winning games. In Dallas,
we were up 3-0 and it's hard not to think about that."
In Dallas, the Ducks took a 3-0 lead in the first period before the
Stars rallied for a 4-3 win Oct. 27.
Defenseman Shea Weber and center Calle Jarnkrok scored for the
Predators (7-2-2), who lost for the third time in four games after
winning six of their first seven.
"I thought we played well," Weber said. "We did a lot of good things
offensively. But we made a couple of mistakes in our defensive-zone
coverage that cost us."
Anaheim, which entered the game with a league-low 10 goals, scored
three in the first period, including two within 12 seconds.
Rakell became the first opponent to score a first-period goal
against the Predators this season. With just 1:11 gone, Rakell
deposited a backhanded shot from the right-wing post across the
crease past goalie Carter Hutton, who made his second start of the
season.
"It gave us a good feeling to build upon throughout the game,
especially with my line," Rakell said about his goal. "We scored
early. We got good pressure early. We just stayed on each other to
keep it up and try to protect the puck."
Vatanen extended the Ducks' lead to 2-0 with a slap shot from the
top of the slot at 11:08. Then center Andrew Cogliano received a
pass from right winger Jakob Silfverberg, skated from the blue line
and converted a wrist shot from the top of the right faceoff circle
at 11:20 for a 3-0 advantage.
"We came out in waves," Stewart said. "The whole team fed off it.
That's how we have to play."
The 12-second span was the quickest between two Ducks goals since
Anaheim scored twice within 11 seconds on Jan. 19, 2013 in
Vancouver.
After Cogliano's goal, Predators coach Peter Laviolette called a
timeout.
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"I've been in games where you're down 3-0 in the first 10 minutes
because you forgot to come out of the locker room," Laviolette said.
"That wasn't the case tonight. Our guys played hard from start to
finish. But (the Ducks) were opportunistic. They came out hungry."
Nashville narrowed the deficit to 3-1 with a power-play goal at 5:23
of the second period. Weber scored his third of the season by
propelling a slap shot from the left point past Andersen while the
Predators had a 4-on-3 advantage.
Stewart extended Anaheim's lead to 4-1 with nine minutes left in the
period. Stationed at the left-wing post, Stewart converted the
rebound of defenseman Korbinian Holzer's shot from the opposite
post.
Jarnkrok's wrist shot from the left circle drew the Predators within
4-2 at 12:59.
Hutton finished with 24 saves.
NOTES: Nashville scratched D Victor Barkley, D Anthony Bitetto and
LW Eric Nystrom. ... The Predators, who did not allow a first-period
goal in 10 games, entered Sunday night's contest within two of the
NHL record to start a season set by the Los Angeles Kings in 1974.
... Predators C Cody Hodgson played in his 300th career game. ...
Anaheim scratched C Ryan Getzlaf, RW Tim Jackman and D Joe Piskula.
... Getzlaf performed light drills Friday, two days after having an
appendectomy, and received treatment Saturday. The team has set no
date for his return. ... Ducks GM Bob Murray said Friday he would
give coach Bruce Boudreau more time to reverse the team's losing
course. "I'm not inclined to make rash changes. I'm going to be
patient," Murray said after the Ducks returned from an 0-4-1 road
trip.
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