NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Jordin Tootoo recorded a “Gordie Howe hat trick” with a goal, assist, and a fight in the Nashville Predators’ 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night.

The Predators snapped a two-game losing streak and ended Anaheim’s two-game winning run.

Tootoo broke a scoreless tie at 5:52 of the first period with his sixth goal of the season.

Vernon Fiddler won a faceoff back to Tootoo, who was stationed above the right circle. Tootoo quickly snapped a wrist shot that beat goalie Jonas Hiller high to the glove side.

Five minutes later, Tootoo fought Anaheim defenseman Joe DiPenta.

With just 15.1 seconds remaining in the first period, Alexander Radulov extended the Predators lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal. Standing in the high slot, Radulov redirected a pass from defenseman Marek Zidlicky through the legs of Hiller for his sixth goal.

Nashville outshot Anaheim 19-6 in the first period.

Ryan Suter put the Predators ahead 3-0 midway through the second period with a wrist shot from the left point through traffic in front of Hiller. Tootoo was credited with the only assist.

Former Predators player Shane Hnidy got the Ducks on the board at 14:14 of the second period with his first of the season, scoring off of a wrist shot from the high slot.

Jerred Smithson’s short-handed goal at 9:21 of the third period sealed the win.

Ryan Getzlaf added a short-handed goal at 16:44 of the third period for the Ducks.

Notes: Fiddler made his return to the Nashville lineup after missing two games due to a strained groin. … Hnidy’s goal ended a stretch of 59 games without one. … The Predators are 11-1-1 when they score first. … The Ducks played their second of a three-game in four-night march through Central Division teams Chicago, Nashville, and Columbus. … Smithson’s short-handed goal was the second scored by the Predators this season.

AP-ES-12-08-07 2247EST

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