The Nashville Predators will try to extend their longest
winning streak of the season to four games tonight, when they visit the
Anaheim Ducks and Honda Center.
The Predators begin a four-game road trip tonight having won three straight
games for the first time this season. They picked up that third win on
Saturday with a 4-2 victory over the Stars.
Pekka Rinne made 27 saves, while Shea Weber, Kevin Klein, Steve Sullivan and
Patric Hornqvist each had a goal for the Predators, who have won four of their
last five and are 3-3-1 on the road this year.
Dan Hamhuis and J.P. Dumont each had two assists in the win.
"This was a real big game for us," said head coach Barry Trotz. "It builds
some momentum and gets us back to .500 [6-6-1]. We dug ourselves a hole [early
in the season], and now we're back in the mix. We don't mind going on the
road. We've been .500 on the road. I'm looking forward to the west coast trip,
because we have had success, and hopefully we can do it again."
Weber, a defenseman, leads the Preds with five goals, but likely won't suit up
for this game due to a foot injury suffered versus Dallas. Nashville is
already without Jason Arnott (arm) and Jordin Tootoo (hip/quadriceps), while
Martin Erat has missed two straight games with a lower-body injury.
Nashville could certainly use Weber, as it is just 4-13-3 all-time in Anaheim.
That includes a loss in seven of its last eight trips there.
Anaheim has won four of six and six of the last nine meetings in the series
overall, and is coming off a 4-3 home setback to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The
loss dropped the Ducks to 1-5-1 in their last seven games and 2-6-0 as the
host this year.
Saku Koivu had a goal and Corey Perry lit the lamp twice to give him six goals
in his last four games. Perry also has four assists over a six-game point
streak. Ryan Getzlaf finished with an assist and has a goal and eight helpers
over a six-game point streak of his own.
Jonas Hiller allowed four goals on 27 shots. Jean-Sebastien Giguere has missed
last four games and remains day-to-day with a nagging groin injury.
"We put in a good effort, but it's still a loss," said Perry. "If we keep
playing [hard], the bounces have to come for us. We're playing a little
stronger and trying to put 60 minutes together."
James Wisniewski will serve the second and final game of his suspension for
the Ducks for a hit versus Phoenix last Saturday.
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