The puck dropped on a game that’s going to be massive for Nashville’s playoff hopes, and the Nashville Predators struggled to maintain possession in the first few minutes. The Anaheim Ducks would effectively keep the puck away from Nashville until 1:30 in, when Nashville was able to get a shot on goal on the slumping John Gibson. The Predators showed some life early with their physicality, but the opening minutes of the contest would see the Preds chasing the puck.
Coach Hynes would put the Predators on a more aggressive approach, with tenacious forechecking in hopes of creating offensive zone turnovers.