Ducks' special teams dominant vs. Predators
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[October 27, 2016]
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Anaheim
Ducks accomplished something Wednesday night they hadn't done in 23
years of existence
Anaheim scored three power-play goals and two short-handed in the
same game for the first time in club history, more than enough to
dispose of the visiting Nashville Predators 6-1 at Honda Center.
"I don't know if you can take that blueprint and expect that many
more times throughout the year," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said of
the special teams play.
Nashville had not played since Saturday and the Ducks were in action
Tuesday night in a 2-1 overtime loss in San Jose, but it was Anaheim
that started strong before putting the game away with five goals in
the second period.
"We got three out of the possible four points," Carlyle said of the
back-to-backs. "If you would have said that going into San Jose,
which is a tough building to play in, and then coming back and
meeting a rested Nashville team, we'd have our work cut out for us.
So, that's a big positive from our standpoint."
The Ducks scored their first goal of the game on the power play
following a holding call on Roman Josi. Antoine Vermette, who
centered the top line in place of injured Ryan Getzlaf, passed the
puck from the wall in the Nashville zone to Michael Sgarbossa near
the far circle. Sgarbossa made a quick feed to Nick Ritchie in the
slot and Ritchie slid the puck past Predators goalie Pekka Rinne at
the 2:57 mark of the opening period for his second goal of the
season.
The Ducks, who combined for 15 goals in the first seven games,
delivered power play and short-handed goals in the first 10 minutes
of the second period to take a 3-0 advantage.
The Predators, who came into the game 9-for-19 on the power play
this season, second-most efficient in the NHL, began their second
man-advantage situation at the 4:06 mark of the second period after
Korbinian Holzer went to the box for high sticking during a scramble
in front of the Anaheim net. Shea Theodore and Jakob Silfverberg
sprung loose on a 2-on-1, however, and Theodore slid the puck to his
right, past the sliding defenseman and onto the tape of Silfverberg,
who pocketed the fifth short-handed goal of his career for a 2-0
lead.
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It was then Anaheim's turn for the man-advantage and the Ducks
didn't waste any time capitalizing, as Silfverberg sent a blast from
atop the left circle and past Rinne for a 3-0 lead at the 9:30 mark
of the second.
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After a Corey Perry goal, Andrew Cogliano would add another
short-handed goal in the period to chase Rinne, and Ryan Kesler
potted a power-play goal in the closing minutes. The Ducks, who came
in 3-for-23 on the power this season, were 3-for-3 through the first
two periods.
"We've got to be tougher to play against," said Nashville coach
Peter Laviolette. "Specialty teams just swung the pendulum tonight
in the wrong direction. Short-handed goals, power-play goals, they
were just too much for any team."
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The Predators finally cashed in on the power play at the 7:43 mark
of the third period, with Colin Wilson preventing the shutout for
Nashville.
"We've got to do a better job of just being harder to play against,
defending our goaltender better and defending our end better,"
Laviolette said. "We gave up too many chances."
The Ducks, who has seven short-handed goals all of last season, have
three through eight games this season.
Anaheim goalie John Gibson made 28 saves in his sixth start this
season.
NOTES: Ducks top-line C Ryan Getzlaf was scratched after suffering
an upper-body injury in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss at San Jose.
Getzlaf, the team's leading scorer, was a game-time decision. ...
The Ducks also recalled G Dustin Tokarski from the San Diego Gulls
of the AHL after G Jonathan Bernier left the San Jose game with an
upper-body injury. ... Ducks C Rickard Rakell skated with the team
Wednesday morning, the first time since signing a six-year contract
extension Oct. 14, but said he still needs a full practice before
he's ready. ... The Predators are beginning a five-game road trip,
which matches their longest of the season, and G Pekka Rinne, C Mike
Fisher, RW Craig Smith and C Colton Sissons are back in the lineup
after a bout of food poisoning sidelined them Saturday in the 5-1
victory against the Penguins. ... D Matt Irwin and LW Harry
Zolnierczyk were the healthy scratches for the Predators. D Clayton
Stoner was also scratched for Anaheim.
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