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Ducks can become first Western team with 30 wins vs. Predators

Jan 9, 2007 - 3:56 PM Anaheim (29-9-6) at Nashville (28-11-3) 8:00 pm EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- After reaching what may have been the low point of a fabulous season, the Anaheim Ducks are headed back in the right direction.

The Ducks can become the first team in the Western Conference to reach 30 victories and stay ahead of the Buffalo Sabres for most points Tuesday when they visit the Nashville Predators.

Anaheim squandered a three-goal lead in the final 10 minutes of Friday's 4-3 home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was the Ducks' fourth consecutive defeat and fifth in six games.

However, Anaheim bounced back two days later with Sunday's 4-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings. Travis Moen, Samuel Pahlsson and Bjorn Melin scored in the second period and netminder Ilya Bryzgalov made 33 saves for the Ducks.

Anaheim tops the West in goals (151) and leads the league in points (64), one more than the Sabres, who are the NHL's only 30-game winner this season.

Nashville has just one less victory than Anaheim and has taken three of its last four contests, including Saturday's 3-2 triumph over the St. Louis Blues.

Jason Arnott scored his 14th goal, Jean-Pierre Dumont added his ninth and Vernon Fiddler his fifth for the Predators, who are 13-3-3 at home.

Teemu Selanne netted a pair of goals and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 21 saves for his 25th career shutout for the Ducks in a 4-0 win over Nashville on December 6.