We find ourselves down to the final two teams, the Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks, to decide who will represent the Western Conference in the 2016-17 Stanley Cup Final.
Fresh off ending their four-game losing streak in Game 7’s, the Ducks lock sticks with the Predators in what is promised to be a thrilling match-up. It was just a year ago when these clubs met in the first round of the postseason, a series in which the Predators would win in a seventh game. Now a season later, these teams find themselves reunited and perhaps not feeling too good, but instead thirsty to vanquish a worthy foe and cash in their golden ticket to the big dance. The action starts Friday at 9:00PM on NBCSN.
Head-to-Head Statistics
Season Series: Anaheim 2-1-0, Nashville 1-1-1
Goals: 10-9 Anaheim
Power Play: 4/13 Anaheim = 30.7% – 3/14 Nashville = 21.4%
Standout Team Playoff Statistics
Anaheim: 3.18 goals per game, 3.00 goals allowed per game, 35.8 shots per game.
Nashville: 1.40 goals allowed per game, 87.5 penalty kill percentage, 8-2 record through two rounds
Team Leaders In Playoffs (Goals-Assists-Points)
Anaheim: Ryan Getzlaf (8 goals, 7 assists & 15 points)
Nashville: Ryan Ellis (4 goals) – Ryan Johansen (7 assists & 9 points)
X-Factor For This Series
Goaltending Is Where The Heart Is
Pekka Rinne has been a highlight reel during the 2016-17 NHL Playoffs and currently holds a .951 save percentage with a 1.37 goals against average. He has shutout his opponents twice in the post season and will not be coming off a rest with Nashville taking out St. Louis in six games. On the other side, John Gibson has had some up and downs during the playoffs. He led his team here, but has been pulled in both rounds and finished under .900 in save percentage during the series against Edmonton. He currently has a 2.80 goals-against average in the playoffs.
Rest For The Wicked
For the Predators to be successful here, they’ll need to rely on Rinne and pounce on their opponent as the Ducks will be tired coming into Game 1 after playing two nights ago. Anaheim will need to protect Gibson and not allow any mistakes like the one that cost him his only goal allowed on Wednesday night. Based on what we’ve seen earlier this season, it would only take the slightest mistake for this one to turn into a scoring binge for either team.
The Resurgence of Ryan Getzlaf
The Anaheim captain has been an absolute terror in the postseason. Finding his team down 2-0 against Edmonton, Getzlaf willed his team back into contention, scoring eight points in three games. Nashville will have their hands full with him and a big key for them will be to keep him off his game. The Predators’ talented blue line kept Chicago and St. Louis in check, but Getzlaf will be a different kind of challenge in this series.
Offense Impersonators
The Predators’ defense has provided 27 points with a plus-27 rating while Anaheim’s has 16 points with a plus-7 rating. What does this mean? That these blue liners can score and with as much offensive production they can harvest, they can equally stifle it. Goaltending and defense will play a huge part in this series.
Prediction: Predators in five games.
Game Schedule
One: Friday, May 12th – 9:00PM on NBCSN
Two: Sunday, May 14th – 7:30PM on NBCSN
Three: Tuesday, May 16th – 8:00PM on NBCSN
Four: Thursday, May 18th – 8:00PM on NBCSN
Five (If Necessary): Saturday, May 20th – 7:15PM on NBCSN
Six (If Necessary): Monday, May 22nd – 8:00PM on NBCSN
Seven (If Necessary): Wednesday, May 24th – 9:00PM on NBCSN
