Fans of the Nashville Predators haven't enjoyed a home win November and hope the team can find some solace when it returns to game homestand versus the Anaheim Ducks.
The Predators have lost four straight games at Bridgestone Arena and are 4-5-3 as the host this season. They are also slated to welcome Calgary, Detroit and St. Louis to town and are eight points off the lead in the Central Division. Nashville's last home win was a 4-1 verdict versus Toronto on Nov. 17.
Nashville ended a two-game slide with a 4-3 overtime victory at Columbus on Thursday, receiving the game-winning goal from Colin Wilson early in the extra period. Patric Hornqvist and Sergei Kostitsyn both scored in the third period and Mike Fisher lit the lamp in the second for the Predators, who erased a two-goal deficit and won for the third time in the past 10 contests.
"It was just one of those games and you're sitting there down 3-1 and playing a real good game. And we thought hey, just stay with it and the guys stayed with it," Nashville head coach Barry Trotz said.
Kostitsyn's goal with 12.1 seconds to go in regulation sent the game into overtime. Ryan Suter and Martin Erat had two assists apiece, while Pekka Rinne stopped 21-of-24 shots in the win.
Nashville forward Jordin Tootoo sat out the second of a two-game suspension for charging Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller during a 3-2 loss last Saturday. Tootoo is probable for Saturday and has three goals and six assists.
Anaheim is in the midst of playing two straight and seven of eight games on the road and suffered a 4-2 loss at St. Louis on Thursday.
Bobby Ryan and Devante Smith-Pelly both scored, while Jonas Hiller stopped 20 shots for the Ducks, who fell to 1-2-1 under new head coach Bruce Boudreau. Boudreau took over for Randy Carlyle on Nov. 29 and the Ducks haven't won consecutive games since reeling off four straight victories from Oct. 8-17.
"We gave them a few breaks," Ryan said postgame. "We had a few defensive breakdowns that eventually cost us the game."
The Ducks have just four wins in their last 23 games and are 2-6-4 away from home this season. They are winless in eight straight road games and last in the Pacific Division. Following a home encounter with Phoenix next Wednesday, the Ducks will return home for five straight games.
Saku Koivu suffered a lower-body injury in the second period against the Blues and did not return. He is questionable for Saturday. Teemu Selanne has recorded 13 points in the last 11 contests and needs one point to reach 900 as a Duck.
Anaheim and Nashville are playing the third of four meetings this season. The Predators have won the first two meetings by a combined 7-2 margin after a 3-0 victory on Oct. 29 and a 4-2 triumph on Nov. 9. Nashville is unbeaten in the last four meetings between the teams and has won three in a row as the host in this series. The two teams will meet again March 18 in California.
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