Anaheim and Nashville reach the halfway point of a three-game season series tonight at Bridgestone Arena. The Ducks earned a 6-1 victory in the initial meeting on October 26 at Honda Center. Anaheim scored three power-play goals and two shorthanded tallies for the first time in club history, becoming the first NHL team to accomplish the feat since Edmonton on March 18, 2008 vs. Phoenix (also 3 PPG and 2 SHG). Both shorthanded goals were scored in the second period as Anaheim tied a franchise record for the most SHG in a period (last: Dec. 20, 1996 vs. CGY).
The Ducks are 37-21-7 all-time against the Predators, going 10-3-0 in their past 13 overall meetings dating to Jan. 26, 2013. Anaheim is 13-15-4 at Bridgestone Arena, earning its last win on Feb. 5, 2015 (5-2). Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf paces current Anaheim skaters in career scoring vs. Nashville, picking up 37 points (11g/26a) in 34 games. These two clubs will conclude the season set back at Honda Center on March 7 (7 p.m. PT).
The Ducks are coming off a 4-2 victory on Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. Jakob Silfverberg tied a career high with four points (2g/2a) in the win, while Ryan Kesler scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season as part of a two-goal performance. Getzlaf also cemented himself in franchise history with his assist on Kesler's empty netter. With the assist, Getzlaf surpassed Teemu Selanne (531) for the all-time franchise lead in assists.
Nashville, meanwhile, defeated the St. Louis Blues, 3-1 on Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena. The victory gave the Predators points in five consecutive games as they close out their four-game homestand tonight against the Ducks. Left wing Filip Forsberg paces the Predators in scoring despite not having a goal through 13 games. Instead, Forsberg's nine assists place him atop the scoring chart, which follows with James Neal (4g/4a) and P.K. Subban (3g/5a).
Following tonight's contest, the Ducks will return to California where they will spend the rest of November with the exception of a Nov. 30 travel day to Vancouver. In total, the club will enjoy 16 days in Southern California beginning with a five-game homestand that features visits by Edmonton (Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m. PT), New Jersey (Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. PT), LA (Sunday, Nov. 20, 5 p.m. PT), New York Islanders (Tuesday, Nov. 22, 7 p.m. PT) and Chicago (Friday, Nov. 25, 1 p.m. PT).
Upcoming milestones include Sami Vatanen one point from surpassing Ruslan Salei (105) for sole possession of eighth on the franchise's all-time scoring list for defensemen.
