Streaking Preds Visit Ducks In Anaheim
(Sports Network) - The Nashville Predators will try to extend their longest winning streak of the season to four games tonight, when they visit the Anaheim Ducks and Honda Center.The Predators begin a four-game road trip tonight having won three straight games for the first time this season. They picked up that third win on Saturday with a 4-2 victory over the Stars. Pekka Rinne made 27 saves, while Shea Weber, Kevin Klein, Steve Sullivan and Patric Hornqvist each had a goal for the Predators, who have won four of their last five and are 3-3-1 on the road this year.
Dan Hamhuis and J.P. Dumont each had two assists in the win. "This was a real big game for us," said head coach Barry Trotz. "It builds some momentum and gets us back to .500 [6-6-1]. We dug ourselves a hole [early in the season], and now we're back in the mix. We don't mind going on the road. We've been .500 on the road. I'm looking forward to the west coast trip, because we have had success, and hopefully we can do it again." Weber, a defenseman, leads the Preds with five goals, but likely won't suit up for this game due to a foot injury suffered versus Dallas. Nashville is already without Jason Arnott (arm) and Jordin Tootoo (hip/quadriceps), while Martin Erat has missed two straight games with a lower-body injury. Nashville could certainly use Weber, as it is just 4-13-3 all-time in Anaheim. That includes a loss in seven of its last eight trips there. Anaheim has won four of six and six of the last nine meetings in the series overall, and is coming off a 4-3 home setback to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The loss dropped the Ducks to 1-5-1 in their last seven games and 2-6-0 as the host this year. Saku Koivu had a goal and Corey Perry lit the lamp twice to give him six goals in his last four games. Perry also has four assists over a six-game point streak. Ryan Getzlaf finished with an assist and has a goal and eight helpers over a six-game point streak of his own. Jonas Hiller allowed four goals on 27 shots. Jean-Sebastien Giguere has missed last four games and remains day-to-day with a nagging groin injury. "We put in a good effort, but it's still a loss," said Perry. "If we keep playing [hard], the bounces have to come for us. We're playing a little stronger and trying to put 60 minutes together." James Wisniewski will serve the second and final game of his suspension for the Ducks for a hit versus Phoenix last Saturday.
Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.




