{"id":9938,"date":"2017-05-19T00:02:38","date_gmt":"2017-05-19T04:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=9938"},"modified":"2017-05-19T00:02:38","modified_gmt":"2017-05-19T04:02:38","slug":"anaheim-ducks-defeat-nashville-predators-overtime-win-game-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/05\/19\/anaheim-ducks-defeat-nashville-predators-overtime-win-game-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Anaheim Ducks Defeat Nashville Predators in Overtime to Win Game 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks squared off tonight in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals. Nashville led Anaheim in the series 2-1. Before the game, pop icon Kelly Clarkson sang the National Anthem while Nashville natives Kings of Leon pumped up the crowd. The game-day operations crew in Nashville is doing everything it can to ensure that playing at home\u00a0really is an advantage. In the end, this game would see its fair share of momentum swings, but the visiting Ducks\u00a0emerged victorious.<\/span><\/p>\n

Anaheim Ducks Defeat Nashville Predators in Overtime to Win Game 4<\/h2>\n

Ducks Strong Start<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Ducks, down in the series, came out firing in the first period. They held the Predators without a shot on goal until six minutes into the opening frame. Pushing the pace, the Ducks defense was very active joining the rush. Predators goaltender <\/span>Pekka Rinne<\/a> <\/b>was\u00a0strong, stopping early bids by defensemen <\/span>Cam Fowler<\/a> <\/b>and <\/span>Brandon Montour<\/a><\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, the Ducks cashed in on a goal from <\/span>Rickard Rakell<\/a> <\/b>at 8:30 of the first period. The Ducks caught the Predators on a line change as Fowler found Rakell with a\u00a0stretch pass. Rakell hammered the puck by Rinne, low on the blocker side. <\/span><\/p>\n

The first period was all Ducks, executing their game to a tee. They were faster and more physical than the Predators. Their defense, one of the league\u2019s most offensively gifted<\/a>, drove the play. Their breakouts were clean and every pass was sharp and on target.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the end of the period, the Ducks had outshot the Predators 14-2. Credit <\/span>Rinne for keeping the Predators alive. Without him, the score could have easily been 3-0. Rinne’s unwillingness to quit on plays would be paramount to the Predators effort.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ducks Stay Resilient<\/span><\/h3>\n

After being\u00a0outplayed in the first period, the Predators came out swinging in the second. Led by <\/span>Filip Forsberg<\/a><\/b>, the Predators were\u00a0a team on a mission. They pushed the pace, testing <\/span>John Gibson<\/a><\/b> early with two shots in the first 50 seconds. They carried that momentum through the first ten minutes of the period. <\/span><\/p>\n

Gibson and the Ducks defense would bend, but not break. Gibson made a fantastic sprawling save on a strong try by Forsberg. Had Forsberg scored at this point, the outcome could have been much different.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Filip Forsberg nearly ties things up for the Preds. pic.twitter.com\/HZoItwGsLj<\/a><\/p>\n

— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) May 19, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n