Anaheim Ducks hold-off Nashville Predators 5-3 to Level Quarterfinal Series –NHL Play-offs Update
Anaheim Ducks’ goalkeeper changing strategy paid off as they levelled the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against Nashville Predators. Following a near shutout against Predators, Ducks defeated them by 5-3 at the sold out Honda Centre in Anaheim,
California, on Saturday.
A combination of two attackers and a reenergized goalkeeper was Ducks’ key to success. Attacking captain, Ryan Getzlaf, and Bobby Ryan combined with Ray Emery’s blocking tactics to form a trio that became an unstoppable force during the game.
Emery was chosen in place of Dan Ellis to start the match for his first post-season opening in four years.
Ellis let four shots through in the first 40 minutes of Wednesday’s matchup so he was replaced by Emery for the remaining 20 minutes who performed exceptionally well.
The veteran goalie lived up to Anaheim’s expectations and diverted 31 shots to lead them to victory, including a few in the second period that were of utmost importance.
"At Christmastime I never expected to play in a playoff game", Emery said. "I'm really appreciative for the opportunity. I just really want to make the most of it".
Both teams took advantage of over 26 minutes of power play time throughout the contest.
Ducks took an early lead in the first period by scoring two goals during penalty time, 38 seconds apart from each other.
Corey Perry and Teemu Selanne, both, scored on Pekka Rinne who was looking much more vulnerable then he was in Game 1.
Anaheim called a timeout to discuss how they could fully capitalise on the 5-on-3 advantage when Nashville’s Martin Erat and Shane O'Brien were booked for slashing.
Perry got a green signal and fired a shot off a long pass from Saku Koivu while Selanne added another one from his own rebound which bounced off Rinne’s pads.
Nashville’s captain, Shea Weber, knew he had to do something to stop Ducks’ shooting spree and decreased the deficit to 2-1 on a power-play and the situation just worsened after that.
Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf both scored in the next 10 minutes, bewildering Predators to end the first 40 minutes with an untamed 4-1 score.
The final period was thrilling as Predators changed its game in every aspect possible. It focused on attacking more aggressively but at the same time not giving any power-play chances to the home team.
Anaheim gave four minutes in penalty time to Predators who scored on the first.
Patric Hornqvist scored on the power-play while Joel Ward brought the lead within a goal’s reach after adding his first of the series, midway through the final period.
Ryan scored on an empty net with 43 seconds remaining to finalize Game 2 in favour of Anaheim.
“I thought that was a big turning point”, Nashville’s coach, Barry Trotz, said after Predators nearly tied the match.
Nashville missed their chance at taking a 2-0 lead in the series which would have been its first in the franchise’s history.
After playing two games against Ducks in Anaheim, Predators return home to play in a tie-breaker Game 3 on Sunday in Nashville.
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