The Carolina Hurricanes came into the Sommet Center fired up and jumped to an early 1-0 lead over the Nashville Predators, but their failure to take advantage of multiple powerplay chances, including a 4-on-3 advantage in the first period, eventually led to another loss as they fell to the Predators, 4-2.
The Preds on the other hand scored two powerplay goals as the Canes came off their discipline and took too many penalties, especially in the third period as they killed any chance they had to mount a comeback.
The young players from Albany played well and Jerome Samson earned an assist on his very first NHL shift. As the rookie skated to the side of the net, he put the puck on goal and the rebound came right to Rod Brind`Amour, who made no mistake putting it past the Nashville goalie. It was the first goal for the Carolina Captain since October.
J.P. Dumont scored a shorthanded goal midway through the first to tie the score, and Patric Hornqvist scored the first of his two powerplay tallies with just 24 seconds left in the period to give the home team a 2-1 lead.
Steve Sullivan would score the only goal in the second period, as he and Hornqvist out-hustled the Canes and finally cashed in with just a minute and change left. Rod Brind'Amour took two tripping penalties earlier in the period which the team was able to kill off.
The wheels fell off in the third period for the Canes as they piled up the penalties. Tuomo Ruutu started things off as he was called for high-sticking. Later in the period, Joni Pitkanen was called for holding and then Andrew Alberts boarded Steve Sullivan from behind, drawing a five minute major and the game misconduct that came along with it.
Hornqvist would score his second of the night on the ensuing 5-on-3 to lock up the game.
Matt Cullen and Tom Kostopoulos combined for a nice shorthanded goal of their own, but it was too little too late and the Canes were unable to get anything else past Pekka Rinne.
There is no rest for the weary as the team hopped on a plane right after the game so they could get back in town for a match against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night.
Game Notes:
- Andrew Alberts might be suspended for his hit on Sullivan. The Pred was helped from the ice and did not return.
- Samson finished with just seven minutes of ice time, but looked good while he was out there. He seemed to bring a little life to the fourth line, which had not scored in a very long time. Even though the youngster only played seven minutes, he led the team with four shots on goal.
- Patrick Dwyer had a nice chance for a shorthanded goal as well, but hit the pipe with his shot. He was set up on a beautiful hustle play by Aaron Ward.
- After generating 15 in the first and eight in the second, Carolina could only muster four shots on goal in the third period.
- The team had 19 blocked shots led by Niclas Wallin with five, while Brandon Sutter and Aaron Ward had four each.
- Aaron Ward led the Canes with four hits.
- Carolina officially finished the game 0-4 on the powerplay. Nashville was 2-9.