Written by Joseph Zucker at Bleacher Reports.com
The Nashville Predators are going to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history following a 6-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Final on Monday night in Bridgestone Arena.
Colton Sissons registered a hat trick to propel the Predators’ attack, while Pekka Rinne made 38 saves, offsetting a 41-18 edge in shots in favor of Anaheim.
Not even half of the opening period had elapsed by the time the Predators took a two-goal lead.
Austin Watson opened the scoring 1:21 into the game. Watson received an assist from Brandon Montour, who deflected the puck into the net with his left skate. The NHL shared a replay of the goal:
It didn’t take long to get the Nashville crowd roaring. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/h1QUVEmobO
— NHL (@NHL) May 23, 2017
A little over seven minutes later, Sissons doubled the home team’s lead with a quick wrist shot that froze Ducks goaltender Jonathan Bernier:
The @PredsNHL got the start that they – and their fans – were looking for. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/ZGDIOkFzik
— NHL (@NHL) May 23, 2017
While Nashville couldn’t have envisaged a better start, the Predators’ momentum didn’t carry over much longer. The absences of Mike Fisher and Ryan Johansen loomed large as Nashville’s attack dried up and the team went into a defensive shell.
Taking advantage of the gun-shy Predators, the Ducks halved the deficit at the 4:45 mark of the second period. Ryan Getzlaf delivered a perfect pass to Ondrej Kase in front of goal, and the 21-year-old forward didn’t miss with his close-range effort.
The Orange County Register‘s Eric Stephens was impressed by what he saw from Kase on the ice:
Ondrej Kase really showing himself in this game. Can be a nice productive winger for Ducks in future.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) May 23, 2017
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