NHL Predictions: Will the Predators close out the Ducks? 5/22/17

Nashville leads the West final 3-2 with a chance to close it out and reach its first-ever Stanley Cup Final Monday.

Johansen’s teammates apparently had no idea he was seriously hurt during the game.

The Predators hold a 3-2 advantage in the series. Right winger Corey Perry netted the winning goal 10:25 into overtime and thus forced a sixth game. He’s Nashville’s 24-year-old rookie, and he made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut on Saturday night, though it wasn’t the first time he’s worn a Predators sweater. Although he did not get an assist on Colin Wilson’s game-tying power-play goal in Game 5, he figured into it in a different way.

Getzlaf has scored 18 points in 16 playoff games during one of the best postseasons of his National Hockey League career, but he has been held scoreless in six of the Ducks’ last seven games, including Game 5.

Last week, Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar was suspended from two games after calling an Atlanta Braves pitcher a “faggot”.

A concussion spotter pulled Aberg from the game. Johansen sustained a season-ending thigh injury in Game 4 that required surgery with an expected recovery time of two to three months.

The Anaheim Ducks need a big road victory here in order to force a game seven on Wednesday. Coach Randy Carlyle gave Ducks fans some hope after Game 5 that Eaves would return as he was upgraded to day-to-day but Sunday was a different story. The duo combined for 65 regular-season goals.

If Gibson can’t play, Jonathan Bernier will make the first playoff start of his career. Wagner then put the Ducks ahead by cleaning up a rebound of a shot by dynamic young defenseman Brandon Montour. After getting his stick up on defenseman Josh Manson, Forsberg absorbed a cross-check to the head from a frustrated Manson to draw the penalty that led to Wilson’s goal. Wilson made the Ducks pay, slipping a hard backhand around Bernier for his second goal of the playoffs and the 13th of his Predators postseason career, tying four other Preds for the franchise lead. However, the Predators have been the better team in this series overall and one could argue they’ve been the best team throughout these entire playoffs.

Rookie left wing Nic Kerdiles likely will draw in for Rakell.

The Ducks announced Rakell’s surprise absence during pregame warmups Saturday. Rinne is 11-4 in these playoffs, and his 1.62 goals-against average is the fourth-lowest with his.942 save percentage the fourth-highest in National Hockey League history with a minimum of 15 games played.