The Predators weren't happy with their effort in a 3-0 loss in Game 3. They felt they had a better response in their 4-1 loss in Game 4, which featured a stretch in the second period where they outshot the Ducks 12-1 and seemed to be controlling the play.
The Ducks blocked 25 shots in Game 4 and limited the Predators' other quality scoring chances. For the Predators to win Game 5, they'll have to do a better job of finding space to get shots through.
"There's lots of things we need to do," Predators forward Mike Fisher said. "We need to bury our chances when we get them. We did have some points there where we were much better than Game 3, but we just didn't do enough. They've played a smart couple games here like we did in their building and we've just got to go in their building and put these two behind us. We're all tied up and it's the best out of three now."
For the Predators it was where the Ducks were blocking shots as much as the total number.
"We've got to continue to keep moving and try and find those areas to try and get it through," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "Of those [25 blocked shots], I think 21 of them came in the zones that you want to [shoot from]. They're in the places where scoring chances count and you can have the ability to make a difference on the scoreboard.
"That's a lot for over 20 of them in one area. We've got to find a way to get it through, past their sticks or through their legs. Get some more pucks to actually get to the net. That's a lot to get blocked."
The Predators won the first two games of the series at Honda Center, each by a 3-2 score. They are confident in their ability to continue the trend of the road team winning in the series.
"I think we know we can play well in their building," Fisher said. "We have to put these last two games behind us, worry about Game 5. That's all that matters is that game coming up and being ready, prepared. Just having the game of our lives. We know we're going to be facing a team who's going to be fired up. We know what we're facing. We've just got to do all we can do to be ready for it."
