We're back with the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with the winners of these two series advancing to the final round. This is the Western Conference Final, with the Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators.
Game 1: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and John Gibson for the Ducks. Anaheim began in the first period with an unassisted Jakob Silfverberg goal, his eighth of the postseason. Nashville tied it on a Filip Forsberg goal, his fourth of the playoffs, coming off of Matt Irwin and Ryan Johansen. The Predators took the lead with an Austin Watson goal, made possible by Johansen and Mattias Ekholm in the second period. The Ducks retied it with a third period goal by Hampus Lindholm, assisted by Nate Thompson. Nashville won 3-2 in overtime on a James Neal goal, his fourth of the postseason, courtesy of P.K. Subban and Ekholm. The three stars were Johansen, Ekholm, and Neal. The Predators have a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and John Gibson for the Ducks. Nashville led off in the first period with a Ryan Johansen goal, his third of the postseason, coming off of Viktor Arvidsson and Roman Josi. The Predators added on with a James Neal power play goal, his fifth of the playoffs, powered by Johansen and Mattias Ekholm. Anaheim got on the board with a Sami Vatanen power play goal, with assists provided by Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler. The Ducks tied it in the second period with a Jakob Silfverberg goal, his ninth of the postseason, guided in by Rickard Rakell and Cam Fowler. Nashville regained the lead with a Filip Forsberg goal, his fifth of the playoffs, made possible by Arvidsson. Anaheim tied it on an Ondrej Kase goal, assisted by Shea Theodore and Josh Manson. The Ducks took the lead with a Nick Ritchie goal, his third of the postseason, fueled by Getzlaf and Brandon Montour. Anaheim iced it at 5-3 with an empty net goal by Antoine Vermette, set up by Getzlaf, who got a sock trick, and Fowler. The three stars went to Getzlaf, Fowler, and Johansen, while Arvidsson gets an honorable mention. The series is tied at 1 as it heads east.
Game 3: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: John Gibson for the Ducks and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Anaheim got going in the second period with a Corey Perry power play goal, his third of the postseason, powered by Rickard Rakell and Sami Vatanen. Nashville tied it on a Filip Forsberg goal, his sixth of the playoffs, via Ryan Ellis. The Predators took the lead with a Roman Josi power play goal, his fifth of the postseason, with assists provided by Viktor Arvidsson and Mattias Ekholm. The final held at 2-1, with the three stars given to Josi, Forsberg, and Gibson (38 for 40 in saves). The Predators have a 2-1 series lead now.
Game 4: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: John Gibson for the Ducks and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Anaheim opened in the first period with a Rickard Rakell goal, his seventh of the postseason, with a lone assist by Cam Fowler. The Ducks added on in the second period with a Nick Ritchie goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Nate Thompson and Sami Vatanen. Nashville got on the board with a P.K. Subban goal, his second of the postseason, assisted by Colin Wilson and Viktor Arvidsson. The Predators tied it on a Filip Forsberg goal, his seventh of the playoffs, made possible by Arvidsson and James Neal. Anaheim won 3-2 in overtime with a Thompson goal, his third of the postseason, with a lone assist from Corey Perry. The three stars were Thompson, Arvidsson, and Ritchie. The series heads west again tied at 2.
Game 5: Honda Center, Anaheim, California. In goal: Pekka Rinne for the Predators and John Gibson for the Ducks. Jonathan Bernier had to replace Gibson at the start of the second period. Anaheim dented the scoreboard in the second period with a Chris Wagner goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Brandon Montour and Jakob Silfverberg. Nashville tied it on a Colin Wilson power play goal, his second of the playoffs, powered by Colton Sissons and P.K. Subban. The Predators added on with a Pontus Aberg goal, passed from Filip Forsberg and Mattias Ekholm in the third period. Nashville iced it at 3-1 with an empty net goal by Austin Watson, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars were Aberg, Wilson, and Rinne (32 for 33 in saves). The Predators head home with a 3-2 series lead, hoping to advance in front of their own fans.
Game 6: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee. In goal: Jonathan Bernier for the Ducks and Pekka Rinne for the Predators. Nashville started in the first period with an Austin Watson goal, his third of the postseason, via Yannick Weber and Matt Irwin. The Predators added on with a Colton Sissons goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Pontus Aberg. Anaheim got on the board in the second period with an Ondrej Kase goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Ryan Getzlaf and Sami Vatanen. Nashville answered with another Sissons goal in the third period, his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs, passed from Aberg and Filip Forsberg. The Ducks got one back with a Chris Wagner goal, his third of the postseason, fueled by Nicolas Kerdiles and Antoine Vermette. Anaheim tied it on a Cam Fowler goal, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Vatanen. The Predators retook the lead when Sissons finished his hat trick on his fifth of the postseason, helped along by Calle Jarnkrok. Nashville extended the lead as Forsberg scored an empty net goal, his eighth of the playoffs, with the help of Vernon Fiddler. The Predators iced it at 6-3 with a Watson empty net goal, his second of the game and fourth of the postseason, set up by Ryan Ellis. The three stars went to Sissons, Watson, and Forsberg, while Aberg and Vatanen get the honorable mentions. The Predators are in the Stanley Cup Finals thanks to a 4-2 series win.
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