First, I'd like to thank the media relations departments of both the Predators and Ducks for making me feel so welcome last night
Ducks 5 – Predators 2
I have lots of thoughts from the contest.
The Ducks really made a statement last night by beating the team with the best home record in the league. The fact that they were able to put the wood to a quality opponent, in their own building, the Ducks did it without their captain Ryan Getzlaf. It was a surprise to everyone on press row when Getz didn't come out to start the game after taking part in warmups.
Head coach Bruce Boudreau said after the game that he doesn't know the extent of the injury or how long his captain will be out of action. Officially, Getzlaf suffered a lower body injury; he will travel to Washington with the team and be re-evaluated later today.
It would be nice if the Ducks could put a solid 60 minutes in every night, but they go through long periods of inconsistency which opens the doors for their opponents to take advantage. After playing a tight game for the first two periods, the Ducks gave up 24 shots to Nashville in the third. The Preds made them pay for their poor play by scoring two goals. Considering the Ducks first two goals of the game had a bit of puck luck attached to them, this could have been a different game.
I'm not a glass half empty kind of guy, so let me turn the page. Corey Perry played an inspired game. Time and again he wanted the puck and was ready to take the team on his back. I was sitting next to a scout who kept saying how great a competitor Perry is.
If anyone needed a definition of secondary scoring, look no further than last night's game. Two goals from Jakob Silfverberg and one each from Sami Vatanen and Matt Beleskey staked Anaheim to their initial 4-0 lead. Beleskey's tally was his 20th of the season. “It’s always fun scoring goals and to get that 20 mark; hopefully, I can keep going,… Beleskey said after the game.
Frederik Andersen went mano y mano with one of the best goalies in the world, Pekka Rinne and came out on top.
Rickard Rakell looked very comfortable playing increased minutes alongside Perry.
Ducks at Capitals
Tonight is a homecoming of sorts for Boudreau. He was the Capitals coach from 2007 through 2012 and led the team to its three best seasons ever. When he was asked if their was any added significance to the game, Boudreau said with a smile, “Just a regular game, what do you want me to say? It’s good to be back and see your friends and stuff like that, to see the surroundings that were friendly at one point.
As of this writing there is no word on whether or not Getzlaf will pay. The lines therefore are fluid. The return of Eric Brewer has also put the defensive pairings in flux. Ben Lovejoy sat out yesterday and Clayton Stoner the previous game.
Forwards Bourque-Rakell-Perry Cogliano-Kesler-Silverberg Beleskey-Thompson-Palmieri Maroon-Beleskey-Jackman
Defensemen Fowler-Lovejoy/Brewer Lindholm-Beauchemin Stoner/Brewer-Vatanen
Goalies Andersen Bryzgalov
-Ed