Predators 4, Ducks 1
Mike Fisher scored twice and added an assist as the Nashville Predators frustrated the Anaheim Ducks en route to a 4-1 road victory in the opener of their Western Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday.
Shea Weber and Steve Sullivan added goals while Pekka Rinne made 27 saves for the Predators.
Teemu Selanne had the lone goal for the Ducks, who will host Game 2 on Friday night.
Rinne and the Predators showed why they were one of the stingiest teams in the regular season, limiting Anaheim's scoring chances while capitalizing on their own.
Weber opened the scoring on a power play 4:13 into the game, blasting a wide-open slapshot from the right point past Anaheim netminder Dan Ellis. Sullivan extended the advantage at 15:16 of the middle frame, cutting in from the right side and slipping the puck past a prone Ellis.
Fisher made it 3-0 less than three minutes later, snapping a wrist shot past Ellis' glove hand. He added to the lead in the opening minute of the third period to chase Ellis, who was replaced by Ray Emery.
The Ducks' frustration boiled over later midway through the period, when NHL goal-scoring leader Corey Perry tussled with Nashville's Kevin Klein after being roughed up in front of the Nashville goal.
Klein was given a double-minor on the play and Selanne scored on the subsequent man advantage, ending Rinne's bid for the shutout at 11:24 of the period for the 36th playoff goal of his illustrious career.