NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Ducks took to the ice at Bridgestone Arena looking like a team playing an exhibition game in September rather than a playoff hopeful in March, desperate to stay within striking distance with the regular season drawing closer to its end. They played without five regulars in their lineup.

The results were all too predictable, a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Predators on Thursday night. Ryan Getzlaf, Isac Lundestrom, Josh Manson, Jakob Silfverberg and Trevor Zegras sat out because of injuries. Getzlaf and Silfverberg joined Manson on injured reserve earlier in the day.

The Ducks played a far better game than during their 8-3 loss Tuesday to the Chicago Blackhawks, the first game on a pivotal five-game trip. But the results were more or less the same. They stayed closer to the opposition and tightened up defensively, but they still lost.

Matt Duchene scored a power-play goal in the first period, Filip Forsberg added an even-strength goal in the second and Nashville was never in serious jeopardy. John Gibson returned to the Ducks’ net after he was pulled from Tuesday’s game after giving up five goals in the first period.

The Ducks recalled Vinni Lettieri, Danny O’Regan and Buddy Robinson from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL to bolster their injury-depleted lineup Thursday. Andrej Sustr joined the lineup without the benefit of a practice after the Ducks claimed him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Adam Henrique scored the Ducks’ lone goal at 14:14 of the third period.

Colton Sissons and Duchene (empty net) also scored for Nashville.

More to come on this story.

Related Articles