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On the stat sheet, Ryan Johansen had little reason to be frustrated after his performance in Sunday's Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, in which he logged two points against John Gibson and the Anaheim Ducks.

Johansen's Predators fell victim to Anaheim's offensive surge -- and an off night for an occasionally oblivious Pekka Rinne -- in a series-tying 5-3 loss. But the Nashville center certainly made his contributions.

And, yet, what seems to be bugging Johansen the most after Sunday's loss is Ryan Kesler.

Surprise, surprise, right? Kesler, known as an instigator as much as he is the alternate captain and center of Anaheim's offense, is no stranger to the edgy side of the game.

The shots between Kesler and Johansen were noticeable and physical.

After the game, Johansen made it clear that he doesn't think highly of Kesler, nor the people "who cheer for a guy like that."

In some sense, Johansen has a point. There are only so many groin shots or elbows to the face you can take before speaking up. And fans dedicated to the Pittsburgh Penguins-esque wave of the NHL future -- one that prioritizes speed over physicality -- would probably be quick to agree that guys like Kesler are hurting the game.

On the other hand, this is hockey. And for all the jazz about a new age of speedsters, even the Pens' poster boy, Sidney Crosby, has been known to deliver his fair share of cheap shots. Kesler was not ready to apologize for his contact after Sunday's game and why would he? He's getting under at least one Predator's skin early in a series.