Three keys from Ducks’ Game 6 loss to Predators

Reporting from NASHVILLE — Once again, the Ducks were unable to close a series out with a road victory in Game 6 as the Predators scored a 3-1 victory to force a Game 7 finale in Anaheim on Wednesday.

Here were three keys from the Ducks’ 3-1 loss in Nashville on Monday:

1. Predators, not prey: Facing a defining game, the Predators responded with a strong effort to reach the first Game 7 in their history.

The Ducks sat back and let the Predators take it to them in the first period. Ryan Kesler’s power-play goal late in the second period should have given them a lift in the third, but they couldn’t build on it.

2. Unaggressive Ducks: The Ducks couldn’t score at even strength. They didn’t go to the net often enough and didn’t get in the way of goaltender Pekka Rinne often enough, leaving him a clear view of most of the Ducks’ shots.

3. Paltry Perry performance: Right wing Corey Perry was terrible.

Again. He’s most effective when he’s battling around the net, but he too often shot from too far out, though he had a good chance in the third that was stopped on a fine pad save by Rinne. Also, Perry was minus-three defensively.

Reuniting him with Ryan Getzlaf in the second period and again in the third didn’t help.