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Nashville Predators @ Anaheim Ducks Preview: The Long Break is Over

The Stats

Nashville Predators Anaheim Ducks
Record 33-32-11 23rd 50-18-8 3rd
GF/Game 2.47 23rd 3.22 1st
GA/Game 2.91 22nd 2.46 7th
5-on-5 Close SF/60 29.4 14th 30.6 8th
5-on-5 Close SA/60 26.8 4th 28.6 14th
Fenwick Close 50.80 13th 50.10 15th
5-on-5 Close Save % .908 29th .929 10th
5-on-4 GF/60 6.1 15th 5.6 20th
# of PP’s/Gm 2.95 29th 3.38 14th
4-on-5 GA/60 7.2 26th 6.6 21st
# of PK’s/Gm 2.93 4th 3.29 15th

The Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim has been one of the league’s best all season, and now they are in coast mode as they gear up for (what they hope is) a long playoff run. As usual, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are leading the charge and amassing points at seemingly every turn. Perry has 41 goals on the year, which is a number I don’t think many Preds fans can even contemplate.

All that’s left for the Ducks at this point is to clinch the Pacific division title. They are currently three points up on the Sharks, with six games left to play. The Presidents’ Trophy is not out of reach, but it still seems pretty likely the Blues have it all but wrapped up.

The Nashville Predators

It seems like a lifetime ago that Carter Hutton helped his team to a shootout win against the Washington Capitals. We hope it’s given some time for Pekka Rinne to cool down and figure out what’s been wrong the last few games. Taking a look at his past few games, he hasn’t played well. Every goal hasn’t been his fault, and twice he was left in the game when both he and his team were out of it. Still, he hasn’t been playing like the Pekks of old recently, which is another reason the season needs to end. A full summer to be healthy and condition should do wonders for the franchise netminder.

On the brighter side, it looks like both Seth Jones and Paul Gaustad could be returning to the lineup soon. Whether that’s tonight or tomorrow is still undetermined. It also remains to be seen if Calle Jarnkrok, who was brought up in Gaustad’s absence, will be sent down. As of this posting no official moves have been made, but it would be a mistake not to keep him up for the rest of the season.

Remember to set your clocks ahead, this one has a 9 p.m. CST start time and is on Sports South.