Ducks Vs. Predators, Game 6: Nashville Wins, Advances To Round 2 For First Time In History

The team has taken on many faces over the years, though the hard-working mold put forward by Barry Trotz has never been broken. Today, they’re in uncharted territory, but before the Predators set foot on second-round ice, let’s take a look back at their playoff history.

2004

The victory is a huge one for Predators fans but there’s another fanbase excited for the outcome as well...Ottawa Senator fans.

It was a pretty incomprehensible call following review, but the NHL’s War Room in Toronto determined that Patric Hornqvist of the Nashville Predators knocked in a puck with a high-stick early in the third period of Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks.

The initial no-goal call on the ice can be excused -- Hornqvist’s stick was above the crossbar. But on review, it seemed clear to just about everybody that the puck struck the stick below the bar. Apparently, the evidence wasn’t clear enough to those who make the decisions.

If the Nashville Predators are going to advance past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history, it’s going to take a win against an Anaheim Ducks team that doesn’t want its season to end just yet. In Game 6 of their Western Conference Quarterfinals series, the Predators and Ducks are tied, 1-1, after the first period.

The Ducks took the lead on a Teemu Selanne goal midway through the first period; it was his sixth of the playoffs, which leads the NHL.

It’s all about regrouping for the Ducks. It was the kind of late-game shift in momentum and control that can dictate a game and, given the importance of that game, can dictate a season. Anaheim needs to make sure it doesn’t. If you’re the Preds, you need to continue to do what you’ve done all year. Shut down the Ducks potent offense and control the style of the game.

For more, check in with our blogs: On the Forecheck covering the Preds, and Anaheim Calling covering the Ducks.