Ducks 4, Predators 2
Kyle Palmieri and Nate Thompson scored 35 seconds apart as host Anaheim erupted for four goals in the third period to complete a three-game season sweep of Nashville.
Captain Ryan Getzlaf added his third goal in three games for the Pacific Division-leading Ducks, who have won eight of the last nine meetings with the Predators and moved atop the Western Conference. Cam Fowler scored on the power play, fellow defenseman Hampus Lindholm joined Patrick Maroon with two assists and John Gibson finished with 25 saves.
Taylor Beck and defenseman Roman Josi scored 5 1/2 minutes apart in the second period for Nashville, which has dropped eight of 10 and fell into a tie with St. Louis atop the Central Division. Pekka Rinne turned aside 24 shots while making his sixth straight start.
Lindholm's shot from the point caromed off the end boards and Palmieri skated out in front and beat Rinne to forge a 2-2 tie at 9:16 of the third period. A turnover in the neutral zone resulted in Thompson beating Rinne over his blocker at 9:51 and Fowler provided insurance exactly five minutes later with a power-play goal.
Corey Perry misfired on an attempted pass to Fowler in the neutral zone, and Beck converted a give-and-go pass with Gabriel Bourque to open the scoring 1:19 into the second period. Josi doubled the advantage after his shot from the point deflected off Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin, but Anaheim trimmed the deficit in the third as Getzlaf's one-timer beat Rinne at 2:12.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Rinne was playing in his second set of back-to-back contests this season. The Finn worked both games on Dec. 29-30 against Chicago and St. Louis, respectively. ... Nashville LW James Neal sat out his second straight contest with an upper-body injury. ... Anaheim C Ryan Kesler won 17-of-25 faceoffs.