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By Adam Brady
AnaheimDucks.com

ANAHEIM – Desperately looking for more goal-scoring, the Ducks found the net more times in an 8:07 stretch in the second period than they have in each of the last six games.

Travis Moen, Chris Kunitz, Chris Pronger and Corey Perry each tallied in that window, propelling the Ducks to a 4-1 advantage that would eventually develop into a 5-2 rout over Nashville at Honda Center.

The Ducks' four goals in an 8:07 stretch in the second marked the fastest four goals the team has scored since 2004.

It was the fourth straight home win for the Ducks, who extended their win streak versus Nashville at Honda Center to seven games, dating back to March 23, 2004. The win also snapped a three-game winning streak for the Predators.

"It’s nice and hopefully it continues," said Perry of Anaheim's sudden rash of offense. "It was one of those games where the puck bounced and went in for us. We needed a game like that to take the monkey off our back. It’s just those fractions of an inch either way. Finally tonight, we started getting the bounces."

The big period followed a first in which Anaheim couldn't get anything going, only managing one shot through the first 14 minutes and "we tried to do too much, instead of simplifying it," said head coach Randy Carlyle.

Anaheim trailed 1-0 going after that period, thanks to a goal by the Predators’ Marek Zidlicky 4:59 into it. But that lead was erased just 42 seconds after the Ducks hit the ice for the second, as Travis Moen earned his second goal of the year (and first since Sept. 30). Moen was waiting in front of the net as a Sean O’Donnell slap shot was tipped by Ryan Carter and caromed off Nashville goalie Dan Ellis right to Moen, who batted it in.

"It had been awhile, so it’s nice to finally get one," Moen said. "I had been getting some chances. I hit lots of crossbars and posts.. It’s a big relief to finally get one. I definitely took a second look. I wasn’t quite sure if it had gone in or not."

Just 1:09 later, with the Ducks holding the puck on a delayed penalty, Mathieu Schneider’s slap shot from the point deflected off Ellis to a waiting Chris Kunitz, who backhanded it netward.

A Pronger slap shot on the 5 on 3 gave the Ducks the first of two power play goals at 7:39, as it deflected off a Nashville defenseman and sailed between the pipes.

Kunitz scored the second goal of the middle session to put the Ducks on top, then assisted on Perry's goal later in the period.

With the Ducks still on the man advantage, Kunitz made a great cross-ice feed to Perry, who one-timed it under Ellis and barely inside the right post. It was a team-leading 22nd goal for Perry.

The four goals were the most the Ducks have had in a second period this season and matched the four they had in the third period of a 6-3 victory against the Kings at Staples Center (though that last one was a Rob Niedermayer empty-netter).

Meanwhile, the four goals in 8:07 marked the fastest four the Ducks have scored since Jan. 23, 2004 in Minnesota.

"Our game is simple: It’s chipping the puck deep, putting a body on someone and shooting pucks on net with lots of people in front," Moen said. "That’s what we did in the second and third. The power play helped us. We got a couple of power play goals and it was huge. Our power play stepped up for us. We just got things rolling."

The oft-penalized Ducks took just one minor (a Moen hold in the first) over the first 40 minutes, but were whistled for three in the third. One, a Ryan Getzlaf interference call, led to a J.P. Dumont goal 4:11 into the period that cut the Ducks’ lead in half at 4-2.

Nashville threatened to make it a one-goal game on a Schneider boarding penalty at 11:27, but a few seconds after that expired, Getzlaf put the Ducks on top 5-2. Ellis kicked away a soft Perry shot right to Getzlaf, who sent it to the top shelf.

J.S. Giguere helped the Ducks cause with 21 saves for his 17th win, benefiting from a defense that gave up just five shots in that one-sided second period and seven in the third.

After managing just that one shot on goal through the first 14 minutes, the Ducks finished with 37 for the game.

Anaheim will look to do it again Wednesday night against Toronto at Honda Center.

GAME NOTES

The Ducks are 7-2-2 over the last 11 games, including points in four straight (3-0-1).

 

Anaheim has won four straight home games and has points in five straight contests at Honda Center (4-0-1).

 

The Ducks four second period goals in 8:07 marks the fastest four goals the club has scored since Jan. 23, 2004 vs. Minnesota.  That contest was tied 2-2 in the third period when Joffrey Lupul, Rob Niedermayer and Vinny Prospal (2) scored four goals in 7:30 (Ducks won 6-2). 

 

Over the last 11 games, the Ducks have allowed an average of 25.0 shots per game (275 total).

 

With a goal and an assist tonight, Ryan Getzlaf extended his point streak to eight games (4-6=10), tying his career-high (6-6=12 points, Nov. 7-25).  He now shares the league lead with Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby (2-12=14 points, Dec.20-Jan. 5) for the longest active point streak.  Getzlaf’s two eight-game point streaks are the longest by a Duck this season.

 

Chris Kunitz has a three-game point streak (2-2=4), including a goal and an assist tonight.

 

With his assist tonight, Doug Weight is now one assist shy of becoming the fifth U.S.-born player to record 700 NHL assists.

 

In his last eight starts, J.S. Giguere has stopped 206-of-219 shots, posting a 1.59 GAA and .940 SV%.

 

With 1-1=2 points this evening, Corey Perry has earned 2-2=4 points in the last three games.

 

Tonight’s game marked the Ducks’ 56th consecutive sellout (17,174) at Honda Center (44 regular season plus 12 playoff games).  Anaheim’s sellout streak is the third-longest among U.S.-based NHL teams.

GAME LOG

3rd Period

20:00 - END OF PERIOD - The Preds don't threaten much over the closing minutes, as a monster second period boosts the Ducks to a 5-2 victory at Honda Center.

13:43 - ANAHEIM GOAL - RYAN GETZLAF - Corey Perry gets a little room in the slot and gets off a soft shot that Ellis kicks away, but not far enough. The puck goes to a waiting Getzlaf, who puts it where they keep the peanut butter. The Ducks lead 5-2.

11:27 - The Preds are 2 for 3 on the power play tonight.

11:27 - ANA Penalty - Mathieu Schneider, 2 min. boarding. Schneider flips Darcy Hordichuk into the boards near the blueline, and some Preds want a piece of the veteran, but Huskins holds them back.

9:33 - Ellis lets a Scott Niedermayer shot trickle in front, but no Ducks are there to touch it.

7:59 - NSH Penalty - Jerred Smithson, 2 min. high sticking. During the delayed whistle, Kent Huskins nearly gets one through on a shot from straightaway.

You could hear a nacho drop in this place right now.

6:20 - With plenty of room near the left circle, Ville Koistinen wrists one that tinks off the crossbar.

4:11 - NASHVILLE GOAL (POWER PLAY) - J.P DUMONT - You had to see this one coming. With the Preds on the power play, Jason Arnott picks up the puck near the right circle with his back to the net, and slides a pass to Dumont at the top of the crease. Dumont tips it past Giguere who can't move back in front in time. Suddenly it's 4-2 Ducks.

4:02 - ANA Penalty - Ryan Getzlaf, 2 min. interference. Guys, if you want to hold this lead, you might want to not take these penalties.

2:55 - Perry tries a loooong pass to Bochenski fresh out of the box, but the new Duck can't reach it.

0:50 - ANA Penalty - Brandon Bochenski, 2 min. tripping. It's just the second minor for Anaheim today.

Scoring change on the first Ducks goal at 0:42. Give an assist to Ryan Carter, who tipped O'Donnell's shot that rebounded off Ellis to Moen, who scored it.

0:00 - The Ducks and Preds take the draw for the third.

2nd Period

20:00 - END OF PERIOD - And what a period it was. The Ducks score four goals in an 8:07 stretch starting 42 seconds in to take a commanding 4-1 lead. The Ducks completely dominate, outshooting Nashville 17-5 and getting goals from Moen, Kunitz, Pronger and Perry.

17:30 - Desperately out of position, Giguere gets bailed out as Huskins dives on his side to block a Preds shot off the rebound.

15:34 - Moen nearly gets his second of the game, as he retrieves a loose one in front of the net and tries to sling it back.

14:30 - Perry makes a nice spin move near the net to get a shot off, and it's saved.

11:50 - Brian Sutherby does a great job to chip the puck into the Ducks zone, and it ends up falling to Marchant in the slot, who makes a move to Ellis but can't pour it in.

During the timeout, a guy who looks like Rod Stewart's less successful younger brother gets inspired by his appearance on the video board and goes dancing up and down the aisle.

10:20 - Looking for even more, Kunitz sprints up the left wing and snaps off a shot that Ellis stops. With one hand, Kunitz gets a stick on the rebound, but that's saved too.

8:49 - ANAHEIM GOAL (POWER PLAY) - COREY PERRY - With the Ducks still on the power play, Chris Kunitz makes a nice cross-ice feed to Corey Perry who bats it under Ellis and just inside the right post. The Ducks are rolling, up 4-1 now.

7:39 - ANAHEIM GOAL (POWER PLAY) - CHRIS PRONGER - On the 5 on 3, Ryan Getzlaf drops it to Pronger at the blueline and the big d-man crushes a one-timer that hits off a Nashville defenseman and flies past Ellis. It's 3-1 Anaheim.

7:25 - NSH Penalty - Scott Nichol, 2 min. hooking. In the scramble near the net, Nichol is nabbed.

7:18 - Brandon Bochenski has a wide-open net after his initial one-timer try is kicked away, but he agonizingly puts it off the post.

5:51 - NSH Penalty - Dan Hamuis, 2 min. slashing.

5:32 - Giguere lets a rebound get in front of him after a long Nashville shot and it goes right to Radek Bonk all alone, but Giguere stonewalls him one-on-one.

5:11 - Ryan Carter is in a quest to get that point eventually, as he tries to deflect a shot from the slot.

3:16 - George Parros and Darvy Hordichuk hold up the proceedings by dropping the gloves. It's a nice little bout, as both players trade several blows, Parros even pulling himself up after initially getting spun to the ground by Hordichuk.

1:51 - ANAHEIM GOAL - CHRIS KUNITZ - On the delayed penalty, Kent Huskins skates behind the net and feeds Mathieu Schneider, who rips a slap shot from the point that deflects off Ellis to waiting Kunitz, who punches it in. The Ducks quickly take the lead.

0:42 - ANAHEIM GOAL - TRAVIS MOEN - Sean O'Donnell takes a slap shot from the point is tipped by Ryan Carter on the way to the net (although he's not given an assist until later). It kicks off Ellis right to Moen in the slot, who bats it back in. It's Moen's second of the year, his first since September 30.

0:00 - Here we go.

1st Period

20:00 - END OF PERIOD - The tape of the first period won't exactly be sent to the Hockey Hall of Fame, but it's exciting enough for Nashville, which gets a Zidlicky goal at 4:59. It's 1-0 Preds.

19:05 - Ryan Carter tries to keep his balance after taking the puck in the slot, eventually getting off a shot that Ellis stops.

17:20 - In trying to find a loose puck, Giguere does a full spin move. Not a good sign.

16:55 - Beauchemin tries to slap it into the corner and accidentally drills teammate Getzlaf at the blueline. Looks like it hurt.

16:00 - A puck comes off the boards right to Moen in the slot, whose one-timer try is saved before he topples over goalie Ellis.

14:10 - We've got 5:50 left and the Ducks have one shot on goal.

12:05 - Bochenski does a nice job to swipe the puck and generate pressure on the net.

The tennis balls are in their normal spot.

9:32 - David Legwand rushes down the right wing and gets off a wrister that Giguere secures.

4:59 - NASHVILLE GOAL (POWER PLAY) - MAREK ZIDLICKY - On the man advantage, Ville Koistinen drops the puck to Zidlicky at the left point. Zidlicky holds it for a second then unleashes a slap shot that Giguere barely moves on as it goes over his left shoulder. It's 1-0 Preds.

The deejay plays "I Can't Drive 55" by Sammy Hagar to honor the penalty. Seriously?

4:12 - ANA Penalty - Travis Moen, 2 min. holding. Be careful what you wish for.

4:10 - Not a ton of action in the first few minutes, just one Preds shot on goal.

0:00 - And we're underway.

Pregame

Starting Goaltenders: ANA Jean-Sebastian Giguere; NSH Dan Ellis

Starting Skaters: ANA Sean O'Donnell, Chris Pronger, Travis Moen, Rob Niedermayer, Ryan Carter; NSH Marek Zidlicky, Ville Koistinen, Jason Arnott, Alexander Radulov, J.P. Dumont

Scratches: ANA Joe DiPenta, Bobby Ryan; NSH Kevin Klein, Jed Ortmeyer

Ryan is scratched for the second straight game in favor of Brandon Bochenski.