Predators rally to beat Ducks at home, take 2-1 lead

Nashville unfazed by goals waved off in third period

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators are so confident right now that not even having two goals in eight seconds waved off for goaltender interference can shake them.

Especially not on home ice.

Roman Josi scored a powerplay goal with 2:43 left, and the Predators rallied to beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 Tuesday night in their first-ever home game in the Western Conference finals.

The Predators grabbed a 2-1 lead in the series with their 10th straight home win in the postseason going back to last season.

The Predators are the first NHL team to win 10 straight playoff games at home since Detroit in 1997-98.

Defenseman Mattias Ekholm said the team feels comfortable on home ice.

“That’s really it,” Ekholm said. “Our fans, I really didn’t think they could bring it to a new level, but I really thought they did tonight. It helps us so much, especially with those two goals.”

Filip Forsberg tied it up at 3:54 of the third as the Predators rallied for the win against an Anaheim team that has notched four comeback victories already when trailing by multiple goals this postseason.

Two Predator goals were waved off within three minutes of Forsberg’s goal, but Nashville kept pressing with Josi scoring Nashville’s first power-play goal of the Conference finals for the win.

“Going out for the third, I think our guys stepped on the gas a little bit more,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said.

Ducks goalie John Gibson made 38 saves, and Corey Perry scored a power-play goal in the second period to give Anaheim a 1-0 lead.

“Gibby played well for us,” Perry said. “He kept us in that game.”

Game 4 is Thursday night in Nashville.

Forsberg tied it up with his third goal in as many games. When officials first waved off a would-be goal by Colton Sissons at 6:25 and then Ryan Johansen’s goal at 6:33, fans started tossing towels onto the ice.

Chris Wagner went to the box for high-sticking Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis with 3:55 left in the Ducks’ offensive zone.

Nashville had been 0 of 11 on the power play in this series.

Josi ended that drought with his wrister from the right circle off an assist from Viktor Arvidsson.

Nashville, 10-3 this postseason, has yet to lose consecutive games.