The set-up: The Anaheim Ducks led the Pacific Division last year with 105 points, 11 more than Nashville's 94 points, which allowed the Predators to 'sneak in' as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. However, it was the Preds who 'took the West by storm,' in reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, taking down the Ducks 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals. The two teams meet tonight in Anaheim, for the first time since last year's postseason, with the Predators checking in at 5-5-2 and the Ducks at 6-5-1.

Nashville: The Predators are 3-1-1 in Nashville but just 2-4-1 away from home, so far. Nashville lost for the fourth time in five outings on Wednesday, dropping the opener of this four-game road trip 4-1 in San Jose. "We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot with the penalties," said head coach Peter Laviolette, who saw his team permit eight power-play opportunities to the Sharks and at least four to the opposition in all but one game this season. Nashville enters this contest having mustered just nine goals during its last five games. Pekka Rinne had been stellar in his previous six outings with just seven goals allowed on 191 shots, before surrendering all four goals at San Jose.

Anaheim: Head coach Randy Carlyle lamented his team's performance with the man advantage as its 31st-ranked power play failed to pay dividends for the third time in four games during Wednesday's 3-1 setback to Toronto. "Our power play's got to deliver more," Carlyle told the Orange County Register. "We need more offense from our power play. When you got four opportunities, you've got to come home with something." Anaheim has been besieged with injuries since the start of the season. The Ducks' normally high-powered offense has struggled with absences of Ryan Getzlaf and power-play 'QB' Cam Fowler, who is expected to miss three to seven weeks with a knee injury. The Anaheim power play has taken the brunt of the injury woes, converting only 10.8 percent of its attempts, which ranked 31st in the NHL (that's dead-last!).

The pick: Both teams are off to shaky starts but this Western Conference Finals rematch should provide a spark for both teams. Filip Forsberg leads Nashville in goals (eight) and points (13) this season. He shredded the Ducks with five goals and two assists as Nashville won the Western Conference Final last spring and I expect either Forsberg or another Predator to step up in this one. As for the Ducks, even with all the injuries, they almost "have to" start putting the puck in the net, soon. Why not here, in an excellent "revenge" spot. Make the Over an 8* play.