By ANDY LEFKOWITZ
STATS Editor

Nashville (6-6-1) at Anaheim (4-7-2), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Nashville Predators closed October with their longest
winning streak of the season. They look to keep that surge going
as they open November with a four-game road trip.

The Predators go for their fourth straight win Thursday night
when they meet the Anaheim Ducks, who remain mired in an
unexpected slow start.

Last week, Nashville (6-6-1) posted wins over Minnesota and
Chicago before topping Dallas 4-2 at home Saturday. The
Predators got third-period goals from Steve Sullivan, Patric
Hornqvist and Kevin Klein while Pekka Rinne finished with 27
saves.

"Overall our game has been improving over the last week or so,"
Rinne said.

Rinne has been a big reason behind the Predators' recent
success. He came on in relief of Dan Ellis on Oct. 28 against
the Wild, stopping all 12 shots faced to get the win. The next
night, Rinne made 22 saves to blank the Blackhawks.

Rinne, who had a goals-against average of 0.76 in the three
victories, was named the NHL's second star of the week Monday.
He's 1-0-2 with a 2.26 GAA in three career starts versus
Anaheim.

Having a healthy J.P. Dumont in the lineup has also helped Barry
Trotz's team. Dumont missed four games last month with a
concussion, but has two goals and seven assists over his last
five contests. He also has goals in three straight games in
Anaheim.

Dumont leads the club with eight assists and 11 points, and he
will be counted upon to continue producing with defenseman Shea
Weber expected to miss this game with a foot injury. Weber leads
Nashville with five goals, and was the club's top scorer against
the Ducks last season with a goal and four assists in four
games.

Following this contest, the Predators will visit Los Angeles and
San Jose before wrapping up the trip Nov. 12 in St. Louis.

Anaheim (4-7-2) lost for the sixth time in seven games Tuesday,
falling 4-3 to Pittsburgh. The 2007 Stanley Cup champions
reached the West semifinals last season, but now have the fewest
wins in the conference and are tied with Minnesota for last with
10 points.

Corey Perry scored twice, including his 100th career goal, to
extend a pair of streaks. The right wing has six goals in a
career-high four-game run, and 10 points in his last six
contests.

"We're working hard, and if we keep playing the way we played
tonight, we're going to get bounces and create chances for
ourselves. Everybody in here is trying their hardest," said
Perry, who led the Ducks with three goals as they went 2-1-1
versus Nashville last season.

Teemu Selanne was Anaheim's top scorer against the Predators in
2008-09, with five assists and six points. The 17-year veteran -
playing his final NHL season - is second on the team with six
goals, but has only two in his last nine games.

Facing the Predators may help the future Hall of Famer snap out
of his slump, as he has done well in recent games at the Honda
Center against Nashville. The 10-time All-Star has recorded
points in his last six of those matchups, totaling six goals and
eight assists while helping Anaheim to a 5-0-1 record.

With Jean-Sebastien Giguere still day-to-day with a groin
injury, Jonas Hiller will probably be back in goal for the
Ducks.

The Switzerland native is 4-5-1 with a 3.04 GAA in 10 starts,
but has one win in his last six outings. He lost his only career
start against Nashville, stopping 29 shots in a 4-2 defeat in
December 2007.