How the Ducks beat the Predators 3-2 in Game 4

The Nashville Predators and the Anaheim Ducks continue their quest for the Stanley Cup. Nashville leads the Western Conference final 2-1.

FINAL

Nate Thompson scores 10:25 into overtime to tie the series for the Ducks.

Nashville didn't play a good game, but they gave themselves a chance to win. It just didn't happen that way, and the best-of-seven series now becomes a best-of-three.

There's a lot to look at as far as the game tape goes. Anaheim stymied Nashville in the neutral zone, which is why it took the wheels to fall off before the Preds could get anything going.

They'll have a few days to regroup before Game 5 on Saturday.

OVERTIME

Ducks got some puck movement going on that last possession. OT goals are 4-3 in favor of Anaheim.

Previously...

Forsberg would have ended it if not for Kevin Bieksa. This overtime is insane.

Ducks hit the post.

According to NBCSN, Bridgestone just set a new decibel record with 129.4. Wow.

Predators are pouring it on right now.

We'll see how many updates we can squeeze in as time allows for this one.

THIRD INTERMISSION

The Predators played their worst game of the playoffs so far and are going to overtime after tying the game in the final minute.

This had a 2-2 series written all over it until the Ducks completely went off the rails and gave momentum back to the Predators. Even though Nashville couldn't convert on the 5-on-3, this team somehow found a way to force OT.

Unreal.

Predators enter the fourth period with all of the momentum. This feels eerily similar to Blackhawks Game 3.

THIRD PERIOD

THE PREDATORS TIE THE GAME WITH 34.5 SECONDS LEFT.

Incredibly, the Ducks kill that off. 2:28 to go in the game.

Ducks take ANOTHER penalty. 5-on-3 for 1:13.

PK Subban cuts the lead to 2-1. Five minutes left to go and the Ducks take another penalty. Things are unraveling for them.

There were like three shots in a matter of seconds that should have been goals. It's just one of those nights for the Preds.

The Ducks have taken really bad penalties at really bad times this series. Ondrej Kase stuck his leg out trying to make a hit and gets called on it. Predators back to the power play.

Nashville had the puck for the entirety of their power play but they couldn't get anything past Gibson. We are under nine minutes to go.

Corey Perry slashed the stick out of the hands of Ryan Ellis with about 20 seconds left to go in the Subban penalty, and now the Preds will get an abreviated power play soon.

Pekka Rinne made an unreal save on a gorgeous passing play by the Ducks. This game should be 3-0.

P.K. Subban elbowed Rickard Rakell off the faceoff and the Duck get a power play.

Nashville just had the best chance of the game and Gibson slammed the door. Preds are starting to wake up a little, but that was a prime opportunity to cut the lead in half. 

Predators look like they're starting to get frustrated by the Ducks. Nashville has iced the puck several times already this period and don't have much going offensively yet.

SECOND INTERMISSION

Nashville pumped 18 shots on John Gibson that period, but most of their attempts are coming from outside.

It looked like Nashville was on the right path very early in the second, but they somehow got away from their game. There were some good shifts here and there, but Nashville has its success when it can enter the zone with speed and cycle the puck long enough to open up chances to score.

If the Predators want to have success in the third, they'll need bodies in front of Gibson to pounce on rebounds the way Aberg did earlier.

SECOND PERIOD

...Rinne got hit by a Duck when trying to play the puck but there was not penalty called. Alrighty then.

Nashville had one of their better shifts of the period. They seem intent on firing everything they can at Gibson in the hopes of getting at least one goal before the intermission.

Pekka Rinne is under siege. Ryan Kesler had the puck in the crease but Rinne stopped it like only he can. This game could be comopletely out of hand if not for him.

Pontus Aberg just missed potting a rebound off Gibson's pad.

Nick Ritchie waited a out a Nashville defender and used him as a screen to send a shot past Rinne. Ducks lead 2-0.

With 12 minutes left in the second period, the Ducks have started to regain some of their footing, but this period has very much been controlled by the Predators.

Anaheim seemed to be a little surprised with how much jump Nashville came out with.

The Ducks are very much on their heels here.

Nashville with a much better start already. They look more like the team they've been so far this postseason.

Not sure what exactly Forsberg just did or how he did it, but he muscled a Duck one-on-one to the goal and nearly tied the game.

Nashville matches their first period shot total in the first minute of the second. I'm guessing Peter Laviolette had some choice words for them in the locker room during the intermission.

FIRST INTERMISSION

The Predators end that period with just one shot on goal.

The Ducks nearly equaled their shot total from Game 3 in one period.

Not a great showing of hockey from the Predators, and an excellent one from the Ducks. They did a great job clogging up the center of the ice and making it tough for the Preds to enter the zone.

Peter Laviolette has made adjustments before. The first game of the Chicago series immediately comes to mind, as does Game 6 of the Blues series. There are still 40 minutes left to be played.

Update: Looks like the Predators were credited with another shot.

FIRST PERIOD

Just over tow minutes to go in the first period. Nashville is getting a power play after Ryan Getzlaf is called for cross-checking Filip Forsberg. Shots are 14-1 in Anaheim's favor, so a power play goal here would do wonders for the Preds.

Nashville kills the penalty. There are three minutes left in the first period and the shots are 12-1 Ducks.

The Ducks are going to the power play. Filip Forsberg got called for cross-checking Jakob Silfverberg. Silfverberg and Kessler were causing a ruckus in front of Rinne, and Rinne took exception to that. 

Yeah, I don't know about that one.

Rickard Rakell gives the Ducks a 1-0 lead. A bad line change and Rakell capitalized on it with a slap shot from the faceoff circle. That's a goal that Pekka Rinne should not give up.

Nashville is having a really hard time getting into the offensive zone. Looks like Ducks' head coach Randy Carlye decided to go with a neutral zone trap to try and counter the Preds' speed.The Ducks are off to another good start. They look much sharper than what they turned into during Game 3, and their passes are much crisper. Remember though, they started strong to start the last game before completely falling flat.

Bridgestone Arena is loud. Water is wet.

The physical play is starting early again, and both teams are coming out with a jump. Anaheim has three early shots, but Nashville looks primed to start setting up some offensive chances. Just give it time.

PREGAME

No surprise at this point, but no Craig Smith on the ice. Harry Zolnierczyk is also absent. PA Parenteau and Pontus Aberg are out for the warm-ups.

For the Ducks, it looks like Kevin Bieska will pair with Sami Vatenen.