Ducks Get Blanked By The Predators

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks continued their homestand against the Nashville Predators. Lukas Dostal was in net against Justus Annunen. The Ducks went with a lineup that included eight defensemen. Olen Zellweger and Ian Moore played on the fourth line. Pavel Mintyukov returned and played on the blue line.

There was no scoring in the first period.

Nashville scored about seven minutes into the second period. Erik Haula beat Dostal over the shoulder in the slot.

Filip Forsberg then scored on the power play with just over eight minutes to go in the middle frame. He took a shot from the point through traffic, which beat a screened Dostal glove side.

The Ducks had an abbreviated 5-on-3 power play toward the end of the period, but couldn’t convert. The Predators ended up scoring shorthanded after the first penalty was killed off. Nashville led 3-0 after two periods.

Zachary L’Heureux scored halfway through the third period to make it a 4-0 game. He scored on the rush in the slot.

Fedor Svechkov scored redirecting a centering pass in front with about five minutes to go. Nashville went on to win 5-0.

Analysis:

The Ducks had a decent start in the first period. They outshot Nashville 12 to 5, but couldn’t get on the board. The Predators then scored three times in the second period, including a shorthanded goal at the end of the middle frame that put the game out of reach. They added two more goals in the third to win 5-0.

This game was similar to the Calgary matchup where through two periods Anaheim put up more shots on goal and had better puck possession numbers at even strength, but their defense let them down again. The Ducks did at least score and almost tied the game against the Flames, whereas in this one they couldn’t even get on the board.

Another part of the reason for this loss was their special teams play. Anaheim had two power plays in the first period and couldn’t convert. At the end of the second period they had a 5-on-3 and gave up a shorthanded goal when it was a 5-on-4 power play. The Ducks went 0-for-6 on the power play and the Predators went 1-for-4. Anaheim has gone 2-for-32 on the power play in their last eight games.

Head Coach Joel Quenneville tried something unique going with a 10-8 lineup, which is rarely. With Mintyukov returning, Coach Q decided to dress all eight available defensemen while scratching Frank Vatrano. It looked like the strategy might work in the first period, but definitely didn’t after the second period. Moving forward the lineup should deploy seven defensemen max.

There is just literally nothing going right for Anaheim right now. They have had decent starts, but they can’t seem to get many pucks into the back of the net. And the defense has been non-existent. They have given up 29 during this six game (0-5-1) losing streak.

Anaheim has now dropped to third place in the Pacific Division. If something doesn’t change, then they might find themselves in a wildcard spot or even out of the playoffs all together.

Team Notes/Stats:

Mason McTavish played in his 300th game.

Mintyukov played in his 200th game.

Cutter Gauthier (Upper-body) could return by Sunday’s game.

Radko Gudas has been improving, but there isn’t a timeline when he will be back.

What’s Next?

The Ducks host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday at 7PM.

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April 8th, 2026