Ducks start strong, hold on late to beat Preds 3-2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Daniel Sprong scored for the third consecutive game, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Ryan Getzlaf and Jakob Silfverberg also scored for the Ducks, who have won four of their past six games. John Gibson made 32 saves.

Filip Forsberg scored two power-plays goal for the Predators, who have lost two straight and four of six overall. Pekka Rinne made 15 stops.

Nashville remains one point behind Winnipeg for first place in the Central Division. The Predators lead St. Louis by four points for second place.

Sprong put the Ducks up 3-0 at 13:59 of the second period. He sped down the right wing and cut inside before burying a backhand from the slot for his 12th goal in 53 games.

Forsberg got the Predators on the board 14:16 into the third, with Rinne pulled for a three-man advantage after Josh Manson put the puck over the boards for delay of game.

Forsberg cut the deficit to 3-2 at 15:14, but the Predators could not come up with a tying goal despite peppering Gibson with shots in the final minutes.

The Ducks jumped in front 3:39 into the first period on Getzlaf’s 12th goal. Getzlaf had a breakaway set up by Manson’s stretch pass, and he scored on a wrist shot from the left circle.

Silfverberg made it 2-0 at 10:56, extending his point streak to six games. He has four goals and four assists in that span.

NOTES: Rinne saved a penalty shot by Max Jones at 11:47 of the second period after the Ducks rookie was pulled down from behind by Nick Bonino. … Manson got his third assist in five games. … The Predators were 2 for 5 on the power play. Nashville was 6 for 80 on the power play over the previous 25 games. … Predators D Roman Josi had an assist to extend his point streak to four games.

UP NEXT

Predators: Visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Ducks: Visit the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night.

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