Hurricanes Capitalize On Power Play Chances, Defeat Predators 5-2
The Nashville Predators gave up three power play goals and couldn't cash in on a season high shots on goal against Pyotr Kochetkov to lose their second game in a row.
Hurricanes Capitalize On Power Play Chances, Defeat Predators 5-2Tonight the Nashville Predators welcomed the Carolina Hurricanes to Bridgestone Arena. Both teams were coming off of one goal losses before the holiday break. The New York Islanders defeated the Hurricanes 5-4 while Nashville lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Dallas Stars 3-2. Tonight both teams were looking for a strong performance and two valuable points.
Andrew Brunette made a few changes to the lineup, slotting Cody Glass back in and healthy scratching Yakov Trenin. Tyson Barrie was also a healthy scratch. Backup goaltender Kevin Lankinen was listed as day-to-day due to illness, so the Predators recalled young goaltender Yaroslav Askarov from Milwaukee ahead of tonight's game to back up Juuse Saros.
Rod Brind'Amour made a few line changes in the Hurricanes lineup with the same roster that played December 23. Pyotr Kochetkov got the start in net for Carolina, and Antti Raanta was recalled from the Chicago Wolves and was the backup for Kochetkov.
An early tripping penalty gave the Hurricanes a power play chance less than a minute into the game, but the Predators' penalty kill was able manage the two minutes shorthanded. The Predators got their first power play chance at 5:14 as Sebastian Aho headed to the box for tripping Gustav Nyquist. The Predators recorded two shots on goal, but couldn't score on Kochetkov before the teams returned to five a side.
Cody Glass took his turn in the box for an interference call, and at 9:50 Aho scored a power play goal as the puck deflected off Luke Schenn and in. At 14:07 Cole Smith sat and within a minute Brett Burns scored from the top of the circles to give Carolina another power play score. The period ended with Nashville leading 11-9 in shots on goal, but Carolina up 2-0.
Gustav Nyquist kicked off the second period with a quick goal, but a coincidental hit after the goal left Nyquist laying on the ice. He skated off the ice and down the tunnel with the medical team and missed the first half of the period.
The Predators momentum was interrupted after a no look pass by Jeremy Lauzon exiting the defensive zone was intercepted by Sebastian Aho. A quick pass from Aho to Andrei Svechnikov resulted in a goal at 3:44, giving Carolina a two goal lead once again.
Jalen Chatfield headed to the penalty box at 4:57 for tripping Cody Glass as Glass attempted to split the defenders for a breakaway chance. Ryan O'Reilly cleaned up the free puck behind Kochetkov and scored on the power play to make it a 3-2 game.
Brett Burns sat at 5:36 and Cody Glass sat at 7:32 for their respective teams. Neither Nashville nor Carolina could capitalize on the man advantage. At 9:56 the Hurricanes scored at even strength as Jack Drury tapped the puck past Saros in a net front scramble to give the Hurricanes a two goal lead once again.
Nashville couldn't convert another power play chance at 11:27, but with 2:36 left in the period Luke Evangelista took a four minute high sticking penalty. Seth Jarvis tipped the puck past Saros almost immediately, extending Carolina's lead to 5-2. Nashville killed off the rest of the penalty, but headed into second intermission down three goals.
The third period began with Yaroslav Askarov in net for Juuse Saros. Each team got a few shots on goal early but both Kochetkov and Askarov made the saves. Play went back and forth between the teams through the final period.
With just over five minutes remaining, Askarov headed to the bench and the Predators added the extra attacker. Carolina didn't allow Nashville much space in the zone and threatened at times to add an empty net goal, but neither team could score as time wound down. The Hurricanes left Bridgestone Arena with a 5-2 win and two points in the standings.