Predators beat Ducks for sixth straight win

The Nashville Predators beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-2 on Wednesday at Honda Center, stretching their winning streak to six games. It is the longest active run in the NHL. Read more: Predators beat Ducks for sixth straight win

Wednesday's Predators-Ducks finale completed a sweep of Nashville's back-to-back in Southern California. Nashville shut out the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 the night before, with Juuse Saros making 30 saves.

A crowd of 17,174 watched at Honda Center as Anaheim's own five-game winning streak came to an end. Nashville improved to 10-4-5 for 25 points, while the Ducks fell to 10-8-1.

Cutter Gauthier opened the scoring for Anaheim just 8:08 into the first period. He beat Justus Annunen on a wrist shot set up by Mikael Granlund. Jayden Struble answered 21 seconds later, scoring on a snap shot from Shane Wright to tie it 1-1.

Related: Predators visit Ducks to close out back-to-back

Hoglander's highlight-reel goal

Nils Hoglander put Nashville ahead in the second period. He deked the puck between his own legs to beat Laurent Brossoit at 16:02. Struble and Wright each had an assist on the goal, which made it 2-1.

Wright extended the lead to 3-1 early in the third period, scoring on a backhand at 8:05 off assists from Hoglander and Josi. It was his first goal with Nashville. The Predators acquired him from Seattle on Nov. 1 in a trade for Matthew Wood.

He finished with a goal and two assists for a three-point night. "We're rolling right now," Wright said.

Mikael Granlund pulled Anaheim back within one at 12:11 of the third, scoring on a slap shot from Sennecke and Helleson. Steven Stamkos answered at 16:04 off assists from Bourque and Josi, making it 4-2 for good.

Related: Predators shut out Kings for fifth straight win

Shots tilted toward Anaheim

Annunen made 27 saves on 29 shots for a .931 save percentage, while Brossoit stopped 18 of 22 for Anaheim. Nashville was outshot 29-22, the one number that explains how it survived the Ducks' push. Coach Andrew Brunette called the result "a gutsy win."

Roman Josi's two assists Wednesday pushed his career point total past 800. He is the fifth defenseman born outside North America to reach the mark. Josi also became the fastest player in Predators history to 20 assists in a season, reaching it in 19 games, one faster than Steve Sullivan's record pace in 2003-04.

Defensemen Nic Hague and Ilya Lyubushkin were scratched, and right wing Jonathan Marchessault remained out with a lower-body injury.

The Predators continue their five-game road trip Friday at Las Vegas against the Golden Knights, then move on to San Jose and Minnesota.