NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Matt Duchene had two goals and an assist, Juuse Saros made 27 saves and the Nashville Predators beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-1 Thursday night.
Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists and Colton Sissons also scored for the Predators, winners of three straight. Nashville entered Thursday in the top wild-card spot in the tight Western Conference race to the postseason.
Adam Henrique scored and John Gibson made 26 saves for Anaheim, which has lost three of four.
Duchene scored the game’s first goal at 10:53 of the opening period. With the Predators on a power play, Duchene finished off a slick tic-tac-toe passing sequence that originated with Mikael Granlund's pass from the right side to Forsberg in the left circle, who immediately found Duchene on the right side for his 28th goal of the season.
Duchene returned Forsberg’s earlier favor and set him up at 11:41 of the second for his 28th goal of the season.
Saros’ best saves came late in the second. Following a Nashville turnover, Cam Fowler skated into the slot unchecked, but Saros was able to glove his wrist shot from in close. Less than a minute later, Saros stopped Sam Steel’s point-blank backhand with an outstretched left pad.
Henrique spoiled Saros' shutout bid with 5:48 to go in the third when he tipped Josh Mahura's shot through Saros and just over the goal line.
Sissons sealed it with 2:30 remaining with a slap shot from the top of the right circle that beat Gibson high to the far side. Duchene added an empty-net goal with just over a minute remaining.
DUCHENE HOT
Duchene’s has six goals in his last four games and extended his point-scoring streak to four games. Over that stretch, he has six goals and two assists. His team-leading 29 goals are one behind his career high of 30, set in 2015-16 as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
LINEUP SHUFFLE
The Ducks had a few new faces in the lineup Thursday.
Defenseman Andrej Sustr, claimed off of waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, played his first game as a Duck. Forwards Danny O’Regan, Vinni Lettieri and Buddy Robinson — all recalled from the San Diego Gulls earlier Thursday — saw action as well.
Anaheim captain Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Jakob Silfverberg were placed on injured reserve. Rookie Trevor Zegras was scratched due to an upper-body injury.
UP NEXT
Predators: Host the St. Louis Blues Saturday.
Ducks: Visit the New Jersey Devils Saturday.
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