Ducks 6, Predators 3
Corey Perry's shorthanded goal early in the third period lifted the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-3 win over the host Nashville Predators on Wednesday, evening their Western Conference quarterfinal at two games apiece.
Perry restored Anaheim's home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven series at 1:17 of the third. The NHL goal-scoring leader skated in untouched and fluttered a backhand shot that fooled Rinne on the glove side.
Ryan Getzlaf, Cam Fowler, Saku Koivu, Brandon McMillan and Teemu Selanne added goals for the Ducks, who will host Game 5 on Friday night. Patric Hornqvist, Cody Franson and Matt Halischuk responded for the Predators.
Fowler opened the scoring on a power play at 4:41 of the opening period, his first career playoff goal. Koivu extended the lead 33 seconds later, wristing a shot past Predators netminder Pekka Rinne from in close after Jason Blake's original attempt was stopped.
Hornqvist cut the deficit in half at 5:45, and the Preds drew even early in the second period. Ducks bruiser Jarkko Ruutu leveled Nashville forward Martin Erat with an open-ice hit, sending Erat to the dressing room and landing Ruutu in the penalty box for interference.
On the ensuing power play, Franson beat Ducks netminder Ray Emery at 5:44 on a shot that was screened by teammate Joel Ward.
Selanne's fifth of the postseason on a power play at 11:41 put the Ducks back in front, but Halischuk erased the deficit at 14:15 on a nifty centering pass from Kevin Klein.
After Perry gave the Ducks a 4-3 edge, Getzlaf extended the lead on a delayed Nashville penalty at 4:51, stickhandling
for several seconds before wiring a wrist shot that beat Rinne over his
right shoulder. McMillan closed out the scoring at 6:46, beating
Rinne between the pads to chase the Predators netminder from the game.