The Nashville Predators look to keep rolling without star center Ryan Johansen as they meet the Anaheim Ducks for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final on Saturday evening.
Predators vs. Ducks 2017 live stream: Time, TV channel, and how to watch Western Conference finals Game 5 online
The Predators and Ducks are tied, 2-2, in the series entering Saturday.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The series between the Predators and Ducks is tied after four games, but the remainder of the series could look much different with Johansen sidelined due to a thigh injury. The 24-year-old underwent emergency surgery after leaving Game 4 on Thursday night and will miss the rest of the playoffs.
Without Johansen, the Predators are thin up the middle, where their current options include Mike Fisher, Calle Jarnkrok, and Colton Sissons. Johansen was the clear No. 1 center for Nashville, and it’ll be hard-pressed to find effective solutions now that everyone gets bumped up a spot on the depth chart.
That’s great news for the Ducks, who boast an exceptional, experienced one-two punch at center with Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler. Those two have to be licking their chops at the opportunity to finish out this series without Johansen, who had 13 points in 14 games, playing for Nashville.
The Predators still have a star-studded defense led by P.K. Subban and Roman Josi, great scorers in Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson, and a goalie playing well in Pekka Rinne, so they’re not totally in trouble. But Johansen is a big loss, and it’ll be interesting to see how they respond without him in Game 5.
Western Conference Final, Game 5
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
TV: NBC, CBC, TVAS
Stream: NBCSports.com
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