3 takeaways from the Anaheim Ducks loss to the Nashville Predators

The Anaheim Ducks lost to the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night, by a final score of 5-0. We took a look at analyzing what the magic number should be for the Ducks to capture a postseason berth, prior to the game, and the Ducks coughed up yet another disheartening effort, notching their sixth consecutive loss in a row. Three key factors were to blame, as the Ducks left the ice under a chorus of boos.

Justus Annunen was a brick wall

Annunen was the best player on the ice, for either team, by making 43 saves to secure the shutout. Annunen looked calm, cool, and collected and made save after save against the Ducks; Terry was turned away on a breakaway, Granlund almost tucked the puck in after making a silky move to cut to the front of the net, Viel was stopped on a point blank one timer, and Sennecke couldn't bury a backdoor tap in.

It seemed the further the game went along, the more resilient Annunen became in securing the shutout. Annunen also posted the best goals saved above expected for any goalie this season with 5.97, and the final score reflected as much.

Lukas Dostal was leaky

Dostal's night was the polar opposite of Annunen's, as the Ducks netminder finished with an .800 save percentage. While he did make a great save in the second period off of a 2 on 1 break for the Predators to keep the game scoreless, Dostal soon unraveled and finished with -1.71 goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck. Yes, the defense for the Ducks can take part of the blame and surely John Carlson colliding into him in the first period didn't help either, but Dostal has been off his game. During the Ducks current losing streak, Dostal has started in four games, but has an .833 save percentage and 4.54 goals against average. Even just average goaltending could have helped tilt the scales in the Ducks favor.

Broken powerplay

Yet another discouraging trend, but the Ducks powerplay was anemic again. With six opportunities in the game against the Predators, including two separate 5 on 3 advantages, the Ducks failed to capitalize. While missing Cutter Gauthier has definitely hurt, there is still more than enough offensive talent on the Ducks to make up for his absence. The Ducks tend to defer and cycle the puck in the offensive zone, waiting for the perfect play, but do not apply enough net front pressure or even shoot enough. And while Annunen being at the top of his game did not help, the Ducks failed to generate enough dangerous chances, as the Predators penalty kill kept them to the perimeter or chasing down iced pucks in the defensive zone.

Final thoughts

In a game the Ducks desperately needed, they failed miserably in front of the home crowd. Another big game is on the horizon, as the San Jose Sharks come into Anaheim on Thursday night. The margin for error has shrunk, as the Ducks now only have a three-point lead on the Predators who are in the second wild card spot. The Ducks have four games left to get some much-needed standings points and get the season back on the rails.