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Fisher, Preds top Ducks in quarterfinal opener

Apr 14, 2011 - 6:24 AM Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Mike Fisher had two goals and an assist to help the Nashville Predators open their Western Conference quarterfinal series with a 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Shea Weber and Steve Sullivan each had a goal for the Predators, who have yet to win a playoff series as the team has been knocked out in the first round all five times they have made the postseason.

Pekka Rinne made 27 stops for Nashville, which comes into the playoffs as the fifth-seed.

"We played really solid defensively and our strength is penalty killing," said Rinne. "We did a good job again tonight. We played big, we played physical in our own zone and tried to limit our turnovers. On the other hand, when they turned the puck over, we executed and scored some huge goals and got the momentum going for us. We'll enjoy this game for a bit and try to get it done in the next game."

Teemu Selanne had the lone goal for the Ducks, who are back in the playoffs after missing out last season.

Dan Ellis, a former Predator, was tagged for four goals on 24 shots in the loss. He was pulled early in the third period and Ray Emery made six stops the rest of the way.

"I didn't think it really got away from us until about the middle of the second period," said Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle. "We started to play as individuals. We got frustrated with our lack of execution. They did a very good job of getting inside and making it very difficult to get to the net. The pucks bounced away versus bouncing for us. I don't think you can say we were happy with too many aspect of our game."

Game 4 is set for Friday in Anaheim.

The only goal of the first period belonged to Nashville as the team took a 1-0 lead on a power-play marker on Weber's big shot from the right point that beat Ellis cleanly.

With 4:44 to play in the second, it was a 2-0 game as Sullivan caught up to the puck near the right circle, dragged it to the front and chipped in his second shot.

Less than three minutes later, the Predators took a 3-0 lead as Patric Hornqvist left a pass at the left circle for Fisher, who snapped a wrister over the glove of Ellis.

Fisher scored 56 seconds into the third period to chase Ellis and make it a 4-0 game. Selanne scored his 36th career playoff goal with 8:36 to play on the power play to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

Both teams finished 1-for-5 on the power play...This is the first time these teams have met in the postseason. The Predators took three of four from the Ducks in the regular season...Anaheim's Corey Perry, who led the NHL in goals, finished the game minus-three with five shots.