Ducks 6 - 3 Predators
Final
  for this game

Ducks beat Preds, even series with third-period burst

Apr 21, 2011 - 5:23 AM Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - Corey Perry's short-handed goal ignited a three-goal third period and staked Anaheim to a 6-3 decision over Nashville in Game 4 of this Western Conference quarterfinal from Bridgestone Arena.

Ryan Getzlaf and Brandon McMillan also lit the lamp in the final 20 minutes for the Ducks, who rebounded from a one-goal setback on Sunday.

Cam Fowler, Saku Koivu and Teemu Selanne also scored to back 19 saves by Ray Emery.

Patric Hornqvist, Joel Ward and Matt Halischuk provided the offense for the Predators. Pekka Rinne allowed all six goals on 29 shots before being pulled late. Anders Lindback finished the contest with nine stops.

Game 5 shifts back to southern California on Friday.

"It's time to really show what kind of group of guys we are," Rinne said. "We have to put this game behind us."

Ducks forward Nick Bonino was sent off for flipping the puck over the glass with 32 seconds remaining in the second period, but the visitors capitalized in the early portion of the third to snap a 3-3 tie and take the lead for good.

McMillan started a rush by tipping the puck away from a Preds defender, and carried down the right side until reaching the circle. He dished back to a trailing Perry, who slid into the high slot and lifted a harmless backhander that somehow eluded Rinne at 1:17.

"When Mac got the puck I just tried to make it a 2-on-2," Perry said. "He created space by dropping it and going through the middle to the net. He made a great screen and the puck went right in."

Getzlaf made it 5-3 at 4:51 on a delayed penalty call, ripping a wrister under the crossbar from the left circle.

McMillan then registered his first career playoff goal at 6:46, shaking off a defender and beating Rinne low to the far post. Lindback was summoned and held the visitors for the remainder of the contest.

Anaheim jumped on Rinne early, striking twice in a 33-second span in the game's first 5 1/2 minutes on tallies from Fowler on a left-point power-play blast and Koivu, who converted a Jason Blake rebound.

Hornqvist quickly halved Nashville's deficit, beating Emery 31 seconds after the Ducks' second goal on his redirection of a Sergei Kostitsyn pass.

Ward's power-play marker at 5:44 of the second tied the game, but Selanne posted a man-advantage tally at 11:41. Unbowed, the home team pulled even at 3-3 when Halischuk potted a rebound at 14:15.

Game Notes

Anaheim outshot Nashville for the first time in the series (38-22)...Ducks forward Bobby Ryan served the last of his two-game suspension, but even without his services, the franchise improved to 12-6 all-time in Game 4s...Selanne leads Anaheim with five goals and Perry is tops with six assists...Halischuk also notched his first career postseason goal...Country music stars Vince Gill, Jo Dee Messina, Carrie Underwood and John Rich were all in attendance.






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