Predators break out in 3rd to go up 2-1 on Ducks

Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi scored third-period goals to carry the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference final.

Josi scored the game-winner on the power play with 2:43 left in regulation as the Predators won their sixth consecutive home playoff game this season. They now hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“To have our fans standing up the whole third period, cheering us on, gave us a lot of energy,” said Nashville’ Mattias Ekholm.

Anaheim winger Chris Wagner was in the penalty box for high-sticking Ryan Ellis when Josi scored. The Predators trailed 1-0 going into the third period.

“Throughout the game I thought we played great,” Forsberg said. “We played fast and competitive. It was just a matter of sticking with it.”

The Predators are now 10-3 in this postseason, and 6-0 at home. Somewhere in this process they have made the transition from a team hoping to win a Stanley Cup to a group of players who understand they have a true opportunity to get it done.

For the first time in franchise history, the Predators have a postseason swagger. They have gone from hoping to win playoff games to expecting to win them.

It has helped that the City of Nashville is smitten with the Predators’ success. Other NHL arenas might be able to match the crowd boost the Predators had Tuesday, but it would difficult to surpass it.

“It’s tough to put in words,” Josi said. “You’ve got to be here to feel the energy. It’s unbelievable. Our fans, they’re amazing. Like every time they stand up they just keep cheering and cheering. I haven’t been in a building that has that much energy.”

Every time the Predators have lost a game in this postseason, they have come back with a win. They lost Game 2 in Anaheim, and followed that up with this come-from-behind effort.

“We wanted to play better defensively tonight and I thought we did,” Josi said. “We did a good job. And this team has done a really good job so far in the playoffs of rebounding.”

In the Eastern final, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators were tied 1-1 in their best-of-seven series heading into