Predators - 2, Ducks - 3: Predators Can't Hold On to Two Goal Lead, Lose Fourth Straight

Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi scored in the first period, but the Predators couldn't hold onto the lead and record their fourth straight loss.

The Nashville Predators welcomed the Anaheim Ducks to Bridgestone Arena Tuesday night. The team reported earlier on Tuesday that forward Tommy Novak was placed on IR with an upper body injury and would miss the next four to six weeks. Nashville was still without defensemen Luke Schenn and Ryan McDonagh due to injury as well. The Preds entered this game against the Ducks on a three game losing streak. 

Nashville shuffled the lineup slightly with the absence of Novak. 

The Anaheim Ducks have surprised many in the league with their recent hot streak, winning seven of their last nine games. Quality goaltending has played an important part in their success, but so has productive forward lines. Frank Vatrano and Mason McTavish entered the game leading the Ducks in points, but Anaheim has gotten scoring from up and down their line up. Tonight the Ducks were without Trevor Zegras who was paced on IR last night and 2023 first round pick Leo Carlsson. John Gibson got the start in net tonight for the Ducks. . 

The first period kicked off with an early power play opportunity for the Predators as Mason McTavish headed to the box for a hold at 1:28. Nashville wasn't able to capitalize on the man advantage, and the teams returned to full strength. 

Nashville controlled the puck for much of the first half of the period but couldn't get anything past Gibson earl including a second power play chance at 9:49. The Ducks got their first opportunity on the man advantage at 13:48 when Alexandre Carrier headed to the box for a boarding call. Nashville's struggling penalty kill did good job shutting down chances, and the teams returned to five a side. 

The first period ended with the Preds back on the power play as Jackson Lacombe was called for a hook at 18:49. Nashville wasn't able to cash in before time expired, and the teams headed to their respective locker rooms with Nashville leading 12-5 in shots on goal but no score.

The Predators started the second with :47 of power play. Although they were able to set up in the offensive zone, they couldn't capitalize on their third power play chance of the night. It was at five on five play that the Predators finally got on the board as Filip Forsberg pushed a puck past Gibson at 1:28 to give the Preds the early lead.

The Ducks were unable to score on a power play at 7:17 while Kiefer Sherwood served two minutes for a high stick.The temperature of the game heated up as Radko Gudas dropped the gloves with Jeremy Lauzon at 12:49, and Nashville ended up with a power play as Ryan Strome joined Gudas in the box for cross checking. The Predators' power play finally got on the board as Roman Josi scored at 14:28 with assists from Gustav Nyquist and Ryan O'Reilly to give the Predators a two goal lead.

With less than four minutes to go in the middle period, Ross Johnston and Michael McCarron threw down the gloves. McCarron was given a five minute fighting penalty and Johnston was assessed a five minute fighting and a ten minute misconduct for throwing his gloves after the scuffle broke up. 

Anaheim got on the board at 17:28 as Cam Fowler's shot deflected past Saros off a defender. The teams headed to the second intermission with Nashville leading 22-12 in shots on goal and 2-1 on the scoreboard. 

The Ducks evened the game up just four minutes into the third period as Radko Gudas was left unattended coming down the slot on a rush chance. Anaheim enjoyed some extended offensive zone time midway through the third period, but a tired Predators defense was able to hold off the pressure. 

The Predators' power play got another chance to capitalize at 10:23 as Alex Killorn headed to the box for holding Juuso Pärssinen as Pärssinen puck handled around him in the corner. A shot by Filip Forsberg broke Gibson's goalie mask but Nashville couldn't get the puck past the net minder, and the teams returned to full strength. 

Nashville generated offense chances through the final half of the game, but it was Urho Vaakanainen who gave the Ducks the lead at 16:09 with a shot from above the circle through traffic. Shortly after the goal, Colton Sissons headed to the penalty box for a slash. Nashville killed off the penalty and Juuse Saros headed to the bench in favor of an extra attacker, but the Preds couldn't get a late tying goal. Nashville lost their fourth game in a row by a score of 3-2.