Annunen Stops 27 as Predators Beat Ducks 4-2 for Sixth Straight Win

Fast Start, Quick Reply

Anaheim pressed early and took the lead at 8:08 when Cutter Gauthier collected a loose puck and scored past Justus Annunen. The Ducks had kept Nashville under pressure in its own zone before the goal.

The Predators answered 21 seconds later. Shane Wright forced a turnover that reached Jayden Struble, whose wrist shot beat Laurent Brossoit to make it 1-1 at 8:29. Anaheim came close to scoring again late in the period, but Jeff Malott’s shot struck the post after Annunen made the initial save. The teams went into the break tied, with Nashville having recorded 10 giveaways in the opening period.

Höglander Breaks The Tie

Both teams created chances during a busy second period, but neither found the net until the 16:02 mark. Jayden Struble set up Nils Höglander, who redirected the puck between his legs and past Brossoit for a 2-1 Nashville lead.

The goal was Höglander’s first since Oct. 6. Nashville outshot Anaheim 9-6 in the period and carried its one-goal advantage into the second intermission.

Nashville Holds Off Anaheim

Annunen denied several dangerous chances early in the third, including a shorthanded breakaway by Leo Carlsson. At 8:05, Wright scored his first goal for Nashville, putting in a rebound after Brossoit stopped Höglander’s deflection of a Roman Josi shot.

Mikael Granlund cut the lead to 3-2 at 12:11, finishing a cross-zone pass from Beckett Sennecke. Nashville restored its two-goal cushion at 16:04 when Steven Stamkos scored his 11th of the season off a pass from Mavrik Bourque.

The Predators killed three Anaheim penalties and finished 0-for-3 on their own power plays. Annunen made 27 saves as Nashville secured its longest active winning streak in the NHL.

A Significant Nashville Run

Coach Andrew Brunette called the result a “really gutsy win” and said Nashville’s defensive detail helped slow Anaheim. He also noted that the team had faced back-to-back situations throughout the season.