Ducks Come Back From 2 Goals Down, Beat Predators 4-2
ANAHEIM (AP) — Kyle Palmieri scored the tying goal and Nate Thompson put the Ducks ahead 35 seconds later, leading Anaheim back from a two-goal deficit with a four-goal third period in a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
Ryan Getzlaf scored early in the third and Cam Fowler added a power-play goal for the Ducks, who roared back from two scoreless periods to reclaim sole possession of the Western Conference lead in a lively meeting of division leaders.
John Gibson made 25 saves as Anaheim won its second straight after a three-game skid, staying even on points atop the overall NHL standings with the New York Rangers.
Roman Josi and Taylor Beck scored, and Pekka Rinne stopped 24 shots in Nashville's eighth loss in 10 games.
Nashville and Anaheim entered the game with identical records and a share of the conference lead with 11 games left in the regular season.
The Predators were in position for a Southern California sweep after edging the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night, but the Ducks shredded their sturdy defense and Rinne in an encouraging comeback for their postseason hopes.
Anaheim scored four goals in 12:39 to earn its NHL-leading 11th victory when trailing after two periods.
After a scoreless first period, Beck put the Predators ahead early in the second when Corey Perry's pass at mid-ice went far behind Fowler and set up a 2-on-1. Josi then doubled Nashville's lead on a power play when his long shot deflected off Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin's stick for the Swiss defenseman's first goal in 10 games.
Anaheim didn't manage a shot in the first 13 minutes of the second period, continuing its season-long struggles in the middle frame.
But Getzlaf broke up Rinne's shutout bid with his 23rd goal on a setup by Perry. Seven minutes later, Palmieri was left alone to snap a perfectly placed shot past Rinne for his 13th goal.
With Nashville scrambling, Thompson seized a chance on the next shift, beating Rinne for his fourth goal of the season. Fowler then put a long shot through Rinne with 5:09 to play.
NOTES: James Neal, Nashville's co-leader with 22 goals, missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. ... James Wisniewski played his first home game of the season for the Ducks, who reacquired the defenseman from Columbus at the trade deadline. He had an assist on Fowler's goal. ... Anaheim forward Tomas Fleischmann was a healthy scratch, and Patrick Maroon returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous game in Minnesota. Top-scoring defenseman Sami Vatanen missed his 14th straight game with a lower-body injury.
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