What we learned from the Ducks’ 5-2 victory over the Predators

The Ducks weren’t holding up Game 5 as the model for success after a 5-2 win against Nashville on Saturday. But it’s all about finding a way in the playoffs.

Anaheim was in danger of letting the game get away but leaned on goalie Frederik Andersen and its discipline to take a 3-2 series lead.

Here’s what we learned:

The Ducks have evolved to work through adversity. The Ducks couldn’t convert on three early full-length power plays, fell behind 1-0 but kept at it and didn’t get goaded into taking penalties as they did in Game 2.

“I really believe that this team has, over the course of the year, gained that composure, just because we’ve had to go through so much,” Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said.

“I think it worked through a little bit today for discipline, playing between the whistles as well. Those are all things you learn over the course of the year. We’ve done it better than past teams that we’ve had.”

Ryan Garbutt on the top line was a smart move. Boudreau put Garbutt with Ryan Getzlaf and David Perron after Game 2 and Garbutt has earned a right to stay there. His goal was his first postseason point as a Duck, on a hustle play to get the puck from two Predators.

Garbutt is a veteran disturber who gave the Ducks fits in a 2014 first-round series as a member of the Dallas Stars.

“He’s as good a forechecker as we have,” Boudreau said. “He’s responsible defensively, and if people take liberties, he’s not afraid to mix it up. I just thought he was a good fit.”

The Ducks aren’t relying on their power play for offense. Twelve of the Ducks’ 16 goals in the series have been scored five on five, which was supposed to be one of their flaws. Anaheim was 26th in the NHL in five-on-five scoring in the regular season.

Follow Curtis Zupke on Twitter @CurtisZupke