Energized Ducks even Western final vs Preds

Nick Ritchie scored the go-ahead goal in the second period, and the Anaheim Ducks rallied for a 5-3 home victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday to even the Western Conference final at a game apiece.

Sami Vatanen, Jacob Silfverberg and Ondrej Kase each had a goal for the Ducks, who wiped out a two-goal deficit to prevail. Anaheim’s Antoine Vermette added an empty-netter with 43.6 seconds left. Ryan Getzlaf had three assists, and Cam Fowler had two.

Anaheim goalie John Gibson stopped 30 shots. Gibson also prevented Nashville from tying the score in the third period with saves on several shots from close range with 5:41 remaining.

Ryan Johansen, James Neal and Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators, and Viktor Arvidsson contributed two assists. Pekka Rinne recorded 22 saves.

“I wish we didn’t get down in the first place, but I think we have three or four lines that get going and just keep punching through,” said Ducks forward Rickard Rakell. “It’s almost like we feel, ‘Oh, we’ve got nothing to lose now.’ It’s almost like that’s when we play our best game. Maybe sometimes we shouldn’t wait for that to get going.”

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

On Monday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins were attempting to even their Eastern Conference final against the Ottawa Senators at a game apiece, with Game 2 taking place in Pittsburgh after press time.