Ducks' special teams dominant vs. Predators
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.