Both teams have won five straight, but Anaheim has scored at least five goals in eight consecutive games, while Nashville has won its last four with three or four. The Predators have been able to protect a lead without trading chances. On Wednesday, that gets harder every time Cutter Gauthier and the Ducks get a power play.
How Nashville can keep the game close
Gauthier had his third hat trick in eight days in Anaheim’s 5–2 win over Pittsburgh. Eight of his 13 goals during his six-game goal streak came on the power play, and he scored twice in less than three minutes in the second period against Pittsburgh. Staying out of the box can limit some of his best chances. Nashville still has to manage the puck when the teams are at even strength.
DraftKings had Anaheim at −142 on the moneyline and Nashville at +120 in the pregame snapshot. Our team grades also give Anaheim the better offense, B-minus to C, with both defenses at C-minus. Nashville showed how it can change the terms in Tuesday’s 3–0 win over Los Angeles. Nils Hoglander turned a turnover near the blue line into the first of two Filip Forsberg goals. That early lead gave Nashville a cushion when the Kings pushed in the third and Juuse Saros had to make 13 saves before the empty-netter.
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Ending the five-goal streak may still leave room for scoring
All eight games in Anaheim’s scoring streak finished above their own posted totals. Nashville’s last four stayed below theirs, with no opponent scoring more than twice. There’s a reason those streaks can be misleading at 6.5: Anaheim’s opponents scored at least three in four of the Ducks’ last five wins. Nashville could slow the Ducks and still help push the total higher if Forsberg and company get the chances they need.
Neither of the listed goalies was confirmed at the time of writing. Nashville’s Justus Annunen stopped 30 of 32 shots against Colorado in his most recent appearance, so Tuesday’s shutout with Saros isn’t the only recent example of Nashville getting the saves it needed. Watch what the Predators do with an early lead if they get one. If they stay out of the box and spend enough time at the other end to keep Anaheim from coming in waves, they can make the Ducks win a different kind of game.
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