ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Kyle Palmieri found out only Wednesday morning that he would get the latest turn at playing alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry on the Ducks' revolving door top line.

Palmieri just might stay there for a bit after one big night.

Two nights after their six-game winning streak ended against the Kings, the Ducks steamrolled to a 5-1 victory at Honda Center behind Palmieri's first career hat trick.

The Ducks (14-3-1) responded to their second loss in 12 games by building a 3-0 first-period and ending goalie Pekka Rinne's night after 40 minutes. Palmieri was the star as he finished off three plays created by linemates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

His natural three consecutive goal trick -- the sixth in franchise history -- was complete when he knocked in a pass from Perry for a power-play goal one minute into the second period.

"I couldn't believe it at first," Palmieri said. "It was kind of a quick play there. I wasn't actually sure if it went in. When the ref gave the signal, it was a pretty awesome feeling."

Palmieri grabbed the goal-scoring lead on the balanced and deep Ducks with seven. Getzlaf said "he'll probably get one more game" on their line.

"He's a shooter, for one," Getzlaf said. "That's a big portion of it. Kyle does a great job finding the areas. You look at all his goals tonight. He's got the speed on the outside and then he finds those areas. That's what we need. That's what I live for."

The Ducks, who pushed their Pacific Division lead to seven points over Dallas, continued on with the rout. Saku Koivu got their eighth power-play goal in the last four games later in the second to answer Craig Smith's score for the Predators.

Nick Bonino started the blitz with a goal into a vacated net after Rinne got trapped when Emerson Etem, called up from the minors on Tuesday, forced him to turn the puck over and fed the young center.

"I didn't do much except change and go to the hashmarks," Bonino said. "The puck was on my stick. It was a great forecheck. Emerson's so fast. He gets in on them real quick. I don't think Rinne or anyone really expected him to be there."

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