Martin Necas and Michael Bunting score two quick third period goals to ensure the Hurricanes win over the Predators in their last preseason game.
The Nashville Predators traveled to Raleigh to play their final preseason game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Last night the Predators defeated the Canes 5-1 at Bridgestone Arena, but tonight's Carolina team looked much more like an opening night lineup than last night's Rod BrindA'Mour roster. In were Martin Necas, Sebastian Aho, Brett Burns, and Frederik Andersen played in net for Carolina.
Head coach Andrew Brunette started a similar roster to last night's. Ryan O'Reilly, Colton Sissons, Kiefer Sherwood, and Jeremy Lauzon were out of tonight's lineup. Kevin Lankinen got the start in net for the Predators.
The Hurricanes were again the dominate team early requiring Kevin Lankinen to be sharp from the start. At 4:09, Michael McCarron headed to the penalty box for a kneeing infraction giving Carolina the first power play of the game. Teuvo Teravainen cashed in with a power play goal at 5:32.
Nashville got pinned in the defensive zone for extended time midway through the first period but picked up the physicality as the first wound down. At 18:42 Michael Bunting headed to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct and :39 seconds later he was joined by Sebastian Aho for a hooking call giving Nashville a five on three. The Predators couldn't take advantage before the period ended, and the teams headed to the locker room with Carolina up 1-0 but Nashville having :42 remaining on a five on three.
Carolina's penalty kill kept Nashville from threatening on the remaining five on three and five on four as the second period got underway. Nashville's power play again couldn't capitalize on a Tony DeAngelo high sticking penalty shortly after the team's returned to full strength. Even at five on five,Nashville struggled to generate offensive chances through the first half of the second period.
Yakov Trenin finally got Nashville on the board with a shot through traffic at 13:56 to tie the game 1-1. The Predators began generating offensive chances and closed the gap in shots on goal. With less than a minute to go, Seth Jarvis scored on a shot from the low circle at 19:08. Carolina headed into the second intermission with a 2-1 lead.
The third period began with back and forth action for both teams which was interrupted at 4:19 by an interference call on Tony DeAngelo. The best chances on the ensuing Predators power play belonged to the shorthanded Hurricanes, and the teams returned to full strength. Alexandre Carrier sat for a cross check penalty midway through the period, but Nashville's penalty kill managed the five on four effectively. It was five on five play where Carolina quickly expanded their lead with two goals in :22 seconds via Martin Necas and Michael Bunting.
Nashville dropped their final preseason game 4-1 and finish the preseason with one win but definite improvements over the course of the preseason. The Predators have one practice and a morning skate before Tuesday afternoon's first regular season game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.