Terry has goal, assist, Ducks top Predators to end 5-game skid

NASHVILLE -- Troy Terry had a goal and an assist, and the Anaheim Ducks ended a five-game skid with a 5-3 win against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday.

Frank Vatrano and Mason McTavish scored, and Lukas Dostal made 39 saves for the Ducks (14-25-1), who opened a six-game road trip. Alex Killorn and Jackson LaCombe each had two assists.

“I thought we were just playing simple,” LaCombe said. “I thought we were playing our game really well. I think we were moving pucks up quick and just moving forward with the puck. It was really good by us.”

Anaheim forward Trevor Zegras left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return. His left leg went into the boards after he got tangled up with the stick of Predators forward Juuso Parssinen.

“He’s not doing good,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “He’ll be out for a while.”

Philip Tomasino and Alexandre Carrier scored for the Predators (22-18-1), who have lost two of their past three games. Juuse Saros made 28 saves.

Nashville has lost five of its past six at home.

“I wish I had an answer,” Predators coach Andrew Brunette said. “It’s just a recurring theme. It’s kind of the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and over again.”

Ryan Strome gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead at 11:12 of the first period as he came out of the penalty box. Killorn made an elevated backhand clearing pass out of the zone, and Strome beat Saros five-hole on the breakaway.

“We got off to a good start with that early penalty kill and the [Strome] goal on the breakaway, and then kind of went from there,” Ducks forward Adam Henrique said. “I thought we were playing a structured game, which was big for us, just kind of getting into the rhythm. And we stuck with it.”

Vatrano extended it to 2-0 at 14:11 on a redirection of a shot by LaCombe.

McTavish pushed it to 3-0 at 17:37 on the power play with a wrist shot from the right circle that went in off Saros’ mask following a cross-ice pass from Terry.

Terry made it 4-0 at 3:05 of the second period on a pass that deflected off Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro’s stick and past Saros.

“Overall, we’re looking at how we’re playing with structure and how competitive we are to get pucks back so that structure actually works out on scoring chances,” Cronin said. “I thought for the first period we did a really good job with the cycles, and then in the second we got a little bit sloppy early and turned pucks over. Got it back together in the second half of the second and rode that momentum.”

Henrique got his 500th NHL point on Terry’s goal.

“Pretty special,” Henrique said. “I’ve certainly come a long way and played with a lot of great teammates over my career so far. Certainly can’t do it without those guys, and family and friends as well is big. The support along the way away from the rink has been big through my career.”

Radko Gudas extended it to 5-0 at 3:16 of the third period on a wraparound after coming out of the penalty box.

Carrier made it 5-1 at 9:45 with a short-handed goal on a rush with Gustav Nyquist.

“To a man, we’ve got to look ourselves in the mirror and find a way to be better,” Nyquist said. “Everyone in this room. These are points we have to win at home if we want to be where we want to be. Not good enough.”

Tomasino cut it to 5-2 at 17:02, scoring on a scramble in front of the net.

Denis Gurianov scored his first goal of the season on a rebound at 19:15 for the 5-3 final.

“It was a very poor start for us,” Predators defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “Lack of urgency, lack of winning puck battles and competing. When you dig a hole like that, obviously it’s tough to come back. We can say we pushed a little bit, but that should happen when you’re in a huge hole like that. Just a really poor start for us, and we’ve got to hold each other accountable and start better here.”

NOTES: Henrique has 249 goals and 241 assists in 869 NHL games. … Terry recorded his 200th NHL point with an assist on McTavish’s goal. He has 201 points (85 goals, 116 assists) in 311 games. … Nyquist extended his point streak to nine games (six goals, seven assists) with his assist on Carrier’s goal.