Jakob Silfverberg leads Ducks past Predators

ANAHEIM -- Jakob Silfverberg scored twice and Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler had goals in the Anaheim Ducks' 6-1 win against the Nashville Predators at Honda Center on Wednesday.
Facing Nashville for the first time since the Predators eliminated them from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a Game 7 on home ice last spring, the Ducks dominated all facets of the game and scored five goals in the second period.
"It's a new team and a new year, but we know what happened last year," Kesler said. "It's still fresh in our minds."

On a night when the Ducks were without their captain, center Ryan Getzlaf, they made up for his absence with their best offensive output of the season. Anaheim scored three power-play goals, converting on its first three opportunities, and two shorthanded goals against the NHL's top power play.
It was the first time in Ducks history they scored three power-play goals and two shorthanded goals, the first team to do so since the Edmonton Oilers against the Arizona Coyotes on March 18, 2008.
"Anytime you're missing a player the level of Getzlaf out of your lineup, our top point-getter, top playmaker and captain, other people have to step and fill the void," Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. "Our players did that."

It was the most goals allowed by the Predators (2-4-0) since Feb. 4, when they gave up six to the Philadelphia Flyers. The players pointed to the high amount of odd-man rushes that were given up and the Ducks' ability to take advantage in transition.
"It's a reality check," Predators defenseman P.K. Subban said. "The reality is that right now, we're just giving up too much. It starts with taking care of the puck."
John Gibson made 28 saves for the Ducks (3-3-2) to win his third straight start.
Silfverberg scored his first goal at 4:26 of the second period when the Predators turned the puck over in the offensive zone on a power play and Ryan Ellis got stuck in a 2-on-1 between Shea Theodore and Silfverberg, whose shot from the right circle went behind Ellis and goalie Pekka Rinne to make it 2-0. He scored again at 9:30.
Perry wove through the Nashville zone and shot from the high slot to make it 4-0 at 15:04. Rinne was then replaced by Marek Mazanec. But forward Andrew Cogliano scored an unassisted shorthanded goal 1:56 later.
Kesler made it 6-0 with a power-play goal with 47 seconds left in the period, his first goal of the season.
Nick Ritchie opened the scoring when he beat Rinne with a backhand on the power play 2:57 into the game. It was Ritchie's second goal in the past three games.
Colin Wilson ended Gibson's shutout bid when he scored at 7:43 of the third period to make it 6-1.
Rinne made 13 saves. Mazarec, who is scheduled to start at the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, made seven saves.

Goal of the game

The shorthanded goal by Silfverberg signaled a turning point in the game.
"It's great for the confidence," Silfverberg said. "It's nice to get the first one out of the way. It was a nice pass from Shea. I didn't expect it, but it went underneath the defenseman and I managed to get a shot off."

Save of the game

Moments after Cogliano's shorthanded goal, Gibson took a puck off the mask and barely flinched.

Highlight of the game

Perry showcased exceptional skating and deceptiveness when he carved his way through the Predators defense for his goal.

Unsung moment of the game

Ducks forward Joseph Cramarossa, who spent three years in the American Hockey League before finally earning a spot on an NHL roster, nearly scored his first goal in the third period but hit the crossbar.

They said it

"We have to be tougher to play against. Just generally speaking, 5-on-5 play wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Special teams just swung the pendulum tonight in the wrong direction. The shorthanded goals and power play goals are too much for any team. We have to do a better job just being harder to play against, defending our goaltender better and defending our end better." -- Predators coach Peter Laviolette
"The pre-scout was to force them. We didn't expect to get two [shorthanded goals], but when you force people and they turn the puck over like they did tonight, you're going to get chances." -- Ducks center Ryan Kesler

Need to know

In addition to Getzlaf, Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner and goalie Jonathan Bernier were out because of upper-body injuries. … Perry surpassed Paul Kariya for sole possession of third place on the Ducks' all-time scoring list. Perry has 670 career points. … Silfverberg hadn't scored a shorthanded goal since Feb. 5, 2015, also against the Predators. … It was the first time Mike Ribeiro failed to get a point against the Ducks in a regular-season game since March 15, 2015. Ribeiro has points in 17 of his past 20 regular-season games against Anaheim.

What's next

Predators: At the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, FS-TN,
NHL.TV
).
Ducks: Home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday (10 p.m. ET; PRIME, FS-O,
NHL.TV
).