Watch: Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg Lead Predators To 2-1 Game 3 Win And Series Lead Over Ducks

Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg scored in the third period to lift the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 home victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference Final series on Tuesday.

Roman Josi, filip forsberg Score In Predators’ 2-1 Game 3 Win vs Ducks

Josi netted the game-winner on a power play with 2:43 left by shooting into a nearly wide-open goal after Anaheim goalie John Gibson seemed to momentarily lose track of the puck and shifted to his right.

Josi took the shot after the puck bounced off Viktor Arvidsson’s leg and fortuitously landed right in his path.

The Predators have won six straight home playoff games this year, and lead the best-of-seven Western Conference Final series 2-1.

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

Ducks winger Chris Wagner landed in the penalty box for high-sticking Ryan Ellis when Josi scored.

Anaheim led 1-0 after right winger Corey Perry scored on a power play with 4:25 remaining in the second period to celebrate his 32nd birthday. Perry took a wrist shot from a terrible angle (below the right face-off circle) that ricocheted off of Predators goalie Pekka Rinne and into the net.

Nashville held Anaheim without a shot for the first 11:43 of the second period.

Forsberg tied it 1-1 at 3:54 of the third with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle.

The Ducks, who outshot the Predators 40-20, had a goal discounted at 8:18 of the second period. Rinne made a skate-save on Brandon Montour’s shot, but Ekholm hit the puck into his own net. Officials waived off the goal since the net came off the moorings.

Former NHL referee Kerry Fraser agreed with the decision.

Fraser also defended the officials’ avoiding a delay of game penalty since Rinne didn’t intentionally touch the net, but merely used his hands in a “defensive posture to protect his face and head from contacting the post.”

Nashville had two of its own goals disallowed in the final period after Forsberg scored.

Harry Zolnierczyk was in the crease and fell on Gibson before Colton Sissons scored. The goal was waived off on the ice.

Ekholm was then called goaltender interference at 6:33 after charging at Gibson and knocking him over before Ryan Johansen netted.

“I thought that was just fruit of whatever we put in throughout the 40 minutes before,” Forsberg said. “Obviously we wanted those goals to be counted, but at the same time we just kept playing. I don’t think anyone said anything negatively or anything. Just kept playing, kept being focused and then obviously that power play came up huge.”

Ducks coach Randy Carlyle lamented his team’s effort, both defensively and offensively.

“We didn’t do a very good job in front of [Gibson] as far as managing the puck and then managing the people that were inside,” Carlyle said. “Through the comparison we look at, they worked harder to get inside than we did tonight.”

Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals is Thursday at 8 pm EST in Nashville.

NASHVILLE, TN – MAY 16: Filip Forsberg #9 of the Nashville Predators skates during the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final against the Anaheim Ducks during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on May 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena