Ducks Edge Predators 2-1 in Thrilling Friday Matchup

Anaheim, California — The Anaheim Ducks battled the Nashville Predators in a close contest Friday night at Honda Center, securing a 2-1 victory to move within six points of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Forward Alex Killorn scored the game-winning goal with eight minutes left in the third period, putting the Ducks on a path towards redemption following their recent losses.

After dropping two consecutive games earlier in the week, the Ducks, now 29-30-7, aimed to regain momentum against a Nashville team that had been riding a four-game winning streak. The game opened scoreless until the second period, when the Ducks capitalized on a turn of fortune thanks to a misplay by Predators defenseman Justin Barron. The mishap allowed Troy Terry to score his 18th goal of the season, putting Anaheim ahead.

Despite a goal from Nashville’s Jakub Vrana in the third period, the Ducks quickly answered with Killorn’s decisive goal, aided by assists from Trevor Zegras and Leo Carlsson. Zegras has made a noticeable impact since returning from injury, now recording eight points in 12 games.

Killorn, reflecting on the match, emphasized the importance of resilience as the team pushes for a playoff spot. “We’re at that point of the season where you can count the amount of games that are left,” he said. “We play a lot of teams that we are trying to overcome in the standings. There’s a lot of opportunities to make some strides.”

Head coach Greg Cronin praised the team’s effort, particularly highlighting the performance of goaltender Lukas Dostal, who secured 28 saves and notched his 20th win of the season. “I thought he was solid tonight,” Cronin remarked. “He made key saves when we needed him.”

For the Predators, the defeat was a setback after a promising stretch that had renewed their hopes. Coach Andrew Brunette emphasized that the team must build on their recent performances. “We were working really hard, but we didn’t manage the game well,” he noted post-game.

The Ducks are now set to embark on a three-game road trip starting Sunday against the St. Louis Blues, with the urgency to close the gap in the playoff race intensifying. The Predators, now sitting at 25-33-7, will also need to regroup as they attempt to navigate the challenges of the remaining schedule.