Predators' Game 4 comeback ends in a setback

P.K. Subban positioned his stick in the passing lane, deflecting Corey Perry’s centering attempt into the air. 

Surely the puck would harmlessly flutter out of danger. The Nashville Predators’ postseason to that point had fallen in their favor, the 50-50 bounces tilting in the right direction.

But the puck ramped up the tip of Subban’s blade and settled inside the Predators’ net. The Anaheim Ducks, who had blown a 2-0 third-period lead, exhaled as they celebrated their 3-2 overtime victory Thursday in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

The Predators, for the first time this postseason at Bridgestone Arena, sullenly filed into a silent locker room. 

“We know every game is going to be a battle,” Subban said after the Predators' 10-game home playoff winning streak, the NHL's longest in two decades, bitterly ended. "I think if there’s a positive that we showed tonight, it’s that when we want to play our game, we can’t be stopped."

Nashville played its unrelenting game in the second and third periods, nearly completing the team's second multi-goal comeback win of the playoffs. 

►REXRODE:Ducks pull stunner, tie series in OT

But the Predators were undone by their worst period of the playoffs, setting a franchise record of futility. They took two shots in the first period, separated by more than 13 minutes. 

“I don’t know if we were afraid (of) what they were going to come with,” Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson said. "We were standing on our heels and watching them play.”

 “I think the guys know what we’re capable of," Predators coach Peter Laviolette said. "There’s a standard to which we measure ourselves and how we need to play. We weren’t close to it.”

This season's Stanley Cup playoffs have been characterized by comebacks. There have been 14 come-from-behind victories involving multi-goal deficits, and the Predators were almost the 15th, which would've tied the league record.

►RELATED:Mike Fisher leaves Game 4 with injury

They finally solved Ducks goaltender John Gibson with two goals in the final 6:27 of regulation. Predators forward Filip Forsberg, known to his teammates as "Mr. Clutch," validated that nickname with 34.5 left, punching in his franchise record-tying seventh goal of the playoffs. 

“We’re never out of a game," Forsberg said. "We proved that to ourselves, and we keep proving that to ourselves.”

Unlike in many other games this postseason, there would be no movie-worthy ending for the Predators on Thursday. They return to Disneyland on Saturday, looking to move one step closer to their ultimate happily ever after. 

"It has to be behind us already and focus on the next one," Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne said. "That's a missed opportunity."

Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.

PREDATORS vs. DUCKS

Series tied 2-2

All games broadcast on 102.5-FM

Game 1: Nashville 3, Anaheim 2 (OT)

Game 2: Anaheim 5, Nashville 3

Game 3: Nashville 2, Anaheim 1

Game 4: Anaheim 3, Nashville 2 (OT)

Saturday: at Anaheim, 6:15 p.m. (NBC)

Monday: at Nashville, 7 p.m. (NBC SN)

x — Wednesday: at Anaheim, 8 p.m. (NBC SN)

x — if necessary