NHL Playoffs: Predators vs. Ducks Game 7 recap, full highlights (Video)

The Nashville Predators have advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a Game 7 road win against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Nashville Predators walk away victorious in Game 7 and will face the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Adversely, for the fourth year in a row the Anaheim Ducks have suffered a Game 7 loss on home ice.

The Ducks have been plagued by slow starts in previous the previous three Game 7 losses and this recurring issue snaked them once more. Colin Wilson was able to get a quick breakaway early in the first period and he finished a beautiful backhand flick to give the Predators an early lead.

Wilson made another good player in the first period and was able to rim the puck around as Shea Weber eventually threw the puck at the net and Paul Gaustad tipped it past Freddie Andersen. The Ducks once again saw themselves needing to climb out of a big hole and the home crowd wasn’t shy about letting them hear it as the team went to the locker room.

The Ducks pushed hard in the second period but nothing was getting past Pekka Rinne. A late Nashville penalty carried over into the third period as Nashville began to lose discipline. Ryan Kesler eventually got loose in the slot to put the Ducks on the board.

The Ducks continued to storm the Nashville net but Rinne stood tall and had an incredible game. There were two or three key saves late that Rinne was forced to make with Corey Perry crashing the crease and those saves were the difference.

This might be the last time we see Bruce Boudreau behind the Anaheim bench as ownership and management could be growing tired of the same fate occurring each year.

Nashville advances to face the San Jose Sharks in the second round, the Sharks will have home ice and that series begins Friday.

Three Stars

1st Star – Pekka Rinne

Nashville needed a big game from Rinne and he delivered. He made the big stops late and looked in control throughout the game.

2nd Star – Colin Wilson

Wilson had a disappointing regular season but was unbelievable in this series and was arguably Nashville’s best forward. He made both Nashville goals happen in game seven.

3rd Star – Ryan Getzlaf

Yes, his team lost and he didn’t produce offensively, but he was a force in this game. He was physical and creating scoring chances but unfortunately, couldn’t get anything past Rinne.

Highlights

What’s Next?

The Predators play the Sharks in San Jose with Game 1 on Saturday, April 28 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

For more coverage of the NHL Playoffs, you can check out our hub page.