Game 6: Win or Go Home

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks lost Game 5 and are now on the brink of elimination. Join at El Ranchito in Orange for our watch party! The address is 182 S. Orange St., Orange, CA 92868. The fun starts at 4 PM, admission is free!

Anaheim Outlook

The Ducks got the lead in Game 5 as they have done for the past couple of contests, but again couldn’t maintain it. The Ducks lost 3-1 despite Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher not playing for Nashville. The Ducks were shorthanded too without Patrick Eaves and Rickard Rakelll, who was injured in Game 4. They both did not make the trip to Nashville for Game 6. John Gibson also couldn’t finish Game 5 and is questionable for tonight’s contest.

The Ducks call up several black aces which include Max Jones, Josh Mahura, Sam Steel, Jaycob Megna, and Sam Carrick. It’s unclear if any will play, but they are options if Randy Carlyle chooses.

Keys To The Game

The Ducks have been able to score first, but they need to play a full 60 minute game because their playoffs lives depend on it. The Ducks also need to make Pekka Rinne‘s job more difficult. The Ducks haven’t been getting enough traffic in front of him. More players need to go to the net and the Ducks need to fire the puck at will because a fortunate bounce or deflection could all that is needed to force a Game 7.

Anaheim Projected Lineup

Offense
Nick Ritchie – Ryan Getzlaf – Ondrej Kase
Andrew Cogliano – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg
Chris Wagner – Nate Thompson – Corey Perry
Nic Kerdiles – Antoine Vermette –  Jared Boll

Defense
Cam Fowler – Sami Vatanen
Shea Theodore – Josh Manson
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Montour

In Net
John Gibson (Probable)

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Nashville Outlook

Nashville can close out the series tonight despite Johansen being out and possibly Fisher missing another game. It really hasn’t matter that they haven’t been able to score first. In the last three games Anaheim scored first and Nashville has answered each time. The Predators came back to win two games and forced overtime in another. If Nashville can score first, then it could be a long night for Anaheim.

Keys To The Game

There really isn’t much for Nashville to change in their game plan. They have been playing solid in front of Rinne and have been doing well on the special teams. As long as Nashville doesn’t get down by several goals in this contest, then they have a great chance to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Nashville Projected Lineup

Offense
Filip Forsberg – Calle Jarnkrok – Viktor Arvidsson
Colin Wilson  – Mike Fisher – Pontus Aberg
Harry Zolniercyk – Colton Sissons – James Neal
Cody McLeod – Vernon Fiddler – Austin Watson

Defense
Roman Josi – Ryan Ellis
Mattias Ekholm – P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin – Yannick Weber

In Net
Pekka Rinne (Probable)

For more analysis on this series, listen to our latest podcast below!

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May 22nd, 2017

 

Filed under: Ducks News Tagged: Anaheim Ducks, ducksnpucks, nashville predators