Annunen Stands Tall as Predators Steal One in Anaheim, 4-2
Anaheim had the better of this one almost everywhere except the scoreboard. The Ducks outshot Nashville 29-22, took the larger share of shot attempts, and created the more dangerous looks. Their chances were worth about 4.16 expected goals (how many goals the chances would normally produce), against 3.17 for Nashville. They still lost 4-2 at home.
The difference was in the crease. Justus Annunen stopped 27 of 29 and turned aside 7 of 8 high-danger shots. That works out to 2.16 goals saved above expected, meaning he kept out roughly two more goals than an average goalie would have against those chances. At the other end, Laurent Brossoit made 18 saves on 22 shots, and Nashville made its looks count.
Cutter Gauthier was Anaheim's most dangerous player, firing seven shots, scoring once and ringing a post. Mikael Granlund, on a line with Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke, added a goal and an assist. For Nashville, Nils Hoglander and Shane Wright, who played together with Filip Forsberg, each had a goal and an assist. Jayden Struble did the same from the back end, Roman Josi set up two, and Steven Stamkos scored on his only shot. Ryan O'Reilly also hit a post.
Neither power play scored, each going 0 for 3. This was a night when the bounces and the goaltending went Nashville's way, and Anaheim did enough to win but did not.
