 AP Photo/Chris Carlson |
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Colin Wilson and Paul Gaustad scored in the first period and the Nashville Predators hung on to win the franchise’s first Game 7, advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.
Pekka Rinne made 36 saves for the wild-card Predators, who rallied from a 3-2 series deficit and ousted the Pacific Division champion Ducks with a gritty road victory. Nashville earned just the third playoff series victory in team history – the first since 2012, and the second over Anaheim.
Nashville will travel up the California coast to face the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Ducks blew a 3-2 series lead and lost a Game 7 at home.
Frederik Andersen made 18 saves and Ryan Kesler scored a power-play goal early in the third period for the Ducks. They had numerous late chances to tie it while largely dominating the final two periods, but a redirected shot clanked off Rinne’s post in the final minutes, and nothing went in during a frantic final minute.
