Austin Watson, Colton Sissons give Predators early lead in Game 6 (Video)
The Predators are looking to send the Ducks home early in this series, and got some early scoring from Austin Watson and Colton Sissons.
The Nashville Predators are looking to eliminate the Anaheim Ducks tonight at home in Game 6, and got some scoring less than two minutes into the game to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Predators scored on their first shot of the night, just a minute and 21 seconds into the game, on a shot from Austin Watson that looked like it bounced off a Ducks player and in.
The Ducks shook things up in net for Game 6 after their 3-1 loss at home in Game 5, as they didn’t even have usual starter John Gibson suit up for the pivotal elimination game. Starting goalie Jonathan Bernier struggled to react to Watson’s shot, and it bounced right off of one of his teammates, Ryan Kesler, in for the goal.
The goal was Watson’s third goal of the series, with one of the three being an empty netter.
Nashville scores on their first shot on net. Banked in off a Ducks player pic.twitter.com/9qIrlQnLHd
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 23, 2017
Later on in the first period, the Predators got another one under their belt past Bernier, as Colton Sissons put one past the goalie before the Predators anti-goalie chants rained down on Bernier in net.
Colton Sissons makes it 2-0 Predators. Rough start for Bernier & the Ducks pic.twitter.com/CKbZy5cQjy
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 23, 2017
Watson and the Predators definitely utilized the energy from the hometown crowd, just minutes after a solid rendition of the National Anthem, an appearance from Tennessee football legend Eddie George, and some shots of injured Predators Ryan Johansen and Kevin Fiala all hyped up the crowd.
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The Predators have the chance to advance to their first ever Stanley Cup Finals in the franchise’s history, as they also compete in their team’s first conference finals this year. They’ve shown they’re up for the challenge, as they hopped out to a 3-2 series lead so far with the chance to wrap things up at home in Nashville.
Unfortunately, the Predators won’t be scoring on every shot they put out there tonight, as Bernier finally settled in for the Ducks in net. Either way, this quick goal could prove to be pivotal in a potential Predators win in Game 6.