The effort was there for Nashville, but the quality was lacking. When it comes to even strength situations, the Preds out shot the Ducks 20-15, but when it comes to high-danger scoring chances, the Ducks took the crown there by a count of 8-7.
As said before, the effort (and quantity was there) but the quality wasn’t. The shot chart shows that:
Via War On Ice
The Predators also dominated the face off dot winning 59% of the draws. Oh, and power play chances, they had plenty of those as well (6) but could not convert on any of them. Nashville is now 1-for-19 on the man advantage for the series. The Predators created seven scoring chances with the extra man with only two being of the high-danger variety.
It didn’t take long for the scoring to get going in this one. The Ducks took a 1-0 advantage just 1:02 into the contest thanks to Ryan Getzlaf burying a rebound off of a David Perron shot.
Ryan Getzlaf gets the #NHLDucks on the board in 1:02. #Preds: pic.twitter.com/VoYdq8pOm6
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
Sure, it was a bad start for Nashville, but they didn’t fold. Roman Josi gave us an example of that.
Roman Josi hit on Ryan Kesler #Preds #NHLDucks: pic.twitter.com/yM2anNH2jh
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
The Ducks continued to push the Predators around to begin the second frame, but Nashville flipped a switch and jumped on Anaheim after the five minute mark. After what felt like an eternity without a whistle and the Preds controlling play for the majority of time, Mike Fisher lit the lamp to tie things up courtesy of a nice feed from Colin Wilson with 10:34 left in the middle period.
Mike Fisher ties it up on the nice feed from Colin Wilson. 1-1 game. #Preds #NHLDucks: pic.twitter.com/9IBVV16SVY
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
Fisher was pumped up after the goal, to say the least.
Hampus Lindholm was in Mike Fisher’s way #Preds #NHLDucks: pic.twitter.com/Gx1cGBvPsV
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
Then, the game changed. The mojo, the confidence and the way things were turning completely changed courtesy of this call on Viktor Arvidsson embellishing. Simon Despres was also called for slashing, but the Ducks capitalized on the 4-0n-4 situation and never looked back.
Viktor Arvidsson called for embellishment here #Preds #NHLDucks: pic.twitter.com/6U73kgYvKu
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
One minute and nine seconds later, the Ducks regained their lead thanks to Nate Thompson sneaking a wrister past Rinne following the nice feed from Rickard Rakell.
Thompson gives the Ducks their lead back. 2-1 game late in the 2nd: pic.twitter.com/DWENNlHvwm
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
Anaheim added to their lead 1:52 later. Jamie McGinn batted a puck home out of mid-air off of a Chris Stewart shot towards the net. This was all she wrote for Nashville.
Jamie McGinn, 3-1 #NHLDucks over the #Preds in the 2nd: pic.twitter.com/R6hREkoh6b
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
Moments later there was a controversial play involving Mike Ribeiro and Corey Perry. There is no question that Ribeiro catches Perry with his stick, but Perry reacted as if he had been stabbed. It was questionable. Could things have gone on with Ribeiro not hitting Perry with his stick. Yes, and that’s what should have happened.
Ribeiro certainly catches Perry here, but Perry reacts as if he’s been sliced by a sword (no embellishment): pic.twitter.com/8etWVzzfAA
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
The Ducks added their fourth goal with 3:08 left in regulation. Just after the face off, Jakob Silfverberg found Andrew Cogliano in the slot and the 28-year-old buried it. Salt to the wound.
Cogliano gives the #NHLDucks a 4-1 advantage: pic.twitter.com/tTLEAYryS0
— Mark Harris (@MCHisTweeting) April 22, 2016
Just like in Game 3, the Predators out Corsi’d the Ducks, this time by a count of 63-45 in all situations on top of out hitting the Ducks 41-27. Regardless, the Preds find themselves locked with the Ducks in this series 2-2 as they head back to Anaheim for Game 5.
Three of Rinne’s allowed goals were of the high-danger variety while another was of the low-danger variety. With that being said, not much blame can be given to the Finn.
You were on the edge of your seat all day at work today, I know it. Well, you’ll be on the edge of your seat on Saturday even more so for Game 5.
All stats via War On Ice.