Power plays proved to be the bane of the Nashville Predators as the Anaheim Ducks made them pay for their transgressions in the first period. Two penalties, called within 48 seconds of each other, put Nashville in a hole while giving Anaheim a 5-on-3 advantage. Martin Erat was up first, whistled for slashing just 3:30 into the game. Shortly thereafter, Shane O'Brien joined him in the box after getting called for the same penalty.
Ducks Vs. Predators Score: Two Power Play Goals Give Anaheim Early Lead, 2-0
Anaheim scored in the waning seconds of a 5-on-3 as Corey Perry buried a one-timer in front of the net, preserving the power play and putting the Ducks up 1-0 just five minutes into the game. Saku Koivu and Lubomir Visnovsky were credited with the assists.
Just 38 seconds later, Teemu Selanne made it a two-fer, cleaning up a rebound and burying the follow to put Anaheim up 2-0, leaving the Predators reeling. Cam Fowler and Ryan Getzlaf got the assists on Selanne's goal.
Lubomir Visnovsky was involved in a scary moment at center ice with four minutes to play in the period. As Visnovsky was headed for the puck, he collided with a teammate, immediately crumpling to the ice hard after a full-speed, head-on collision. Visnovsky was forced to leave the game as he was helped off the ice.
Penalties were the story of the first as power plays were aplenty for both teams. Nashville got its first power play as Lubomir Visnovsky was whistled for slashing, but were unable to take advantage. Just as the Predators advantage was ending, David Legwand was sent to the box for tripping, but Anaheim was unable to take advantage. Toni Lydman and Legwand, who just came back onto the ice after his first penalty, were both sent to the box within seconds of each other as the Predators and Ducks played a bit of 4-on-4 hockey.
Both sides had 12 shots, with Anaheim putting two in the back of the net and Nashville none.
For more on this game, visit On The Forecheck, our Predators blog, or Anaheim Calling, our Anaheim blog.
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