Ducks 5, Predators 3
Bobby Ryan scored twice as Anaheim's big guns atoned for a poor showing two nights earlier with a 5-3 victory over visiting Nashville on Friday night in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne added goals for the Ducks, who were held to a single goal in their Game 1 defeat. The series resumes Sunday evening in Nashville with the teams even at a game apiece.
Shea Weber, Patric Hornqvist and Joel Ward replied for the Predators, who allowed at least five goals for the first time since surrendering six in a loss to Chicago on Jan. 16.
After looking out of sync in Wednesday's 4-1 loss, it didn't take long for Anaheim's offensive stars to hit their stride Friday.
Martin Erat and Shane O'Brien picked up consecutive slashing penalties 48 seconds apart, and Anaheim made the Predators pay in quick succession. Perry one-timed a Saku Koivu pass to put the Ducks up 1-0 at 5:24, then set up a perfect screen as Selanne slid the puck underneath Predators netminder Pekka Rinne from in close at 6:02.
Weber trimmed the deficit to 2-1 on a power play at 4:29 of the second period, rifling a forehand from a bad angle that eluded Anaheim netminder Ray Emery. Ryan restore the two-goal edge less than three minutes later, banging in a rebound after his initial shot was stopped.
Getzlaf made it 4-1 late in the second before the Predators rallied made a game of it. Hornqvist completed a three-way passing play with an easy conversion past an out-of-position Emery at 1:30 of the third, and Ward cut it to 4-3 on a nifty pass from Erat at 10:17.
Ryan ended Nashville's comeback bid with his second of the night into an empty net in the final minute.