Regular Season, Game 48: Hurricanes v. Nashville Predators

After playing almost a thousand times in 2021, the Canes and the Predators will square off for the first time in 2022. The Canes are coming off a disappointing finish against Florida, blowing a lead in the final minute of the game and then allowing a goal just 16 seconds into overtime to drop a 3-2 decision. While they earned a point, it's their fourth loss in the last five games since coming back from the All-Star Break. It's led to some upset fans during this hard stretch in the season, This is the second time they've faced off this season, but it has been a while. They faced off the second game of the season in Nashville on October 16 with the Canes winning 3-2. Frederik Andersen and Juuse Saros went to battle and Andersen made just one more save in the win. Andersen will be in the net tonight again for the Canes as they try and break out of their rut. Seth Jarvis is a game-time decision tonight and Brendan Smith is probably going to be in for Ethan Bear. 

The Predators are in the same struggle as the Canes. They come into tonight's game on a three-game losing streak since the break. They dropped a 4-1 decision to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night. Juuse Saros, one of the most used goalies in the league, is likely to get the start again with two days off. Both Matt Duchene and Filip Forsberg are over the 20-goal mark, while Roman Josi is in the Norris conversation and leads the team in points with 48. These two teams are very familiar with one another, having played in the playoffs and meeting eight times last regular season. I'm excited for tonight because I'll be in attendance for the game at PNC Arena, my second of the season. I'm hoping for some fireworks, but, most importantly, I'm hoping for a lot of Canes' goals and an emphatic win for the home team. 

Thoughts on the Game

This game started very slow for the Canes and it took them forever to get a shot on Juuse Saros. Brady Skjei's goal looked automatic the second he walked down from the point and towards the crease. I thought the Canes took control from that point. The period got very chippy once the Canes took the lead. There was the incident between Forsberg and Aho, the roughing call on Johansen, then the soft elbowing call on Svechnikov at the end of the period that made things feel similar, though not quite to the same level, as the Florida game and the physicality of Wednesday's tilt. The game took more of a shape in the second period with the Canes dominating in most fascets. The shot chart reflected this as well, 12-5 in the Canes' advantage. Kotkaniemi got the early goal in the period to make it 2-0 on another great play from Necas, who also factored into the Skjei goal. Kotkaniemi followed his own shot and put it top shelf on Saros. The goal from Kunin late in the period could've been a huge momentum breaker going into the intermission. It was a great shot, but Nashville hadn't been building much to that point in the period, so it was a little deflating. That feeling didn't last long with Slavin scoring on a beautiful set-up from Svechnikov with just one second left in the period to make it a two-goal game again as the two teams headed into the third period. 

Nashville came out in the third period and were clearly the aggressors. You could sense their desperation in the arena. Andersen made a huge save on Tomasino with his pad to keep it 3-1. A tripping penalty led to a power play for the Canes and Svechnikov capitalized on a great pass from Teravainen into a yawning cage to make it a three-goal game. The Predators continued to push back, but Andersen held strong with just over six minutes left to play. I didn't think there was any way John Hynes would pull his goal down three goals, but he did and it worked beautifully. Forsberg jumped on a loose puck to make it 4-2 with 5:23 left, but the Canes still felt like they had it in the bag. The Jeannot deflection to cut the lead to just one goal with 2:11 left silenced the crowd as many started to have more feelings similar to the Florida game. Fortunately, it was a new night with a different outcome as Svechnikov buried a shot into the empty net on the power play to seal the Canes' 5-3 win. 

Canes' Three Stars of the Game

Third Star- Martin Necas (2 Assists)

When players get into stretches where they don't score, they must continue to find ways to contribute. We've seen it recently with Staal and Necas is in the same boat. Necas recorded primary assists on the first two goals of the night, the second coming in his first shift after going to the bench hurt. He played well in the defensive zone to lead to the breakout for the KK goal and was noticeable all night. 

Second Star- Brady Skjei (Goal, Assist)

I mentioned it earlier, but his goal just looked like it was going to happen the second he charged in from the point. He was a key part of the KK goal and laid the body well tonight, finishing with three hits as well. It was a much better night for him and Brett Pesce tonight after a tough stretch of games, but they appear to have put all that behind them. 

First Star- Andrei Svechnikov (2 Goals, Assist)

We are spoiled as a fanbase because we get to watch him play every night the Canes hit the ice. He played his usual physical style and was a nuisance in the first period. He then factored into the final three goals of the night for the Canes, scoring both his goals on the power play. He's on an absolute tear and now leads the team in goals by scoring his 22nd tonight. 

Final Thoughts

I'm trying not to look too much into the three goals allowed in two games with the opposing goalie pulled. I don't see it as too much of a big deal, but it is a troubling trend for a team that is usually very staunch defensively. Along with the multi-point games from each man mentioned before, Aho added to his team-leading total with two assists and Slavin added a goal and an assist. Frederik Andersen, despite the three goals allowed, played very well and earned several chants tonight. It was nice to see the offense get some momentum behind them and earn a tough win against a quality Western Conference opponent. They now hit the road once again for a back-to-back in Pennsylvania against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on Sunday and Monday. It'll be the first meeting with Pittsburgh this season and the first since Morgan Geekie's two-goal debut right before the initial COVID pause in 2020. The meeting with Philadelphia will be their third matchup after splitting decisions two weeks apart in November. Both games are afternoon games as well. Hopefully, this win gives the Canes the momentum they need to play two tough division opponents. The injury to Vincent Trocheck is going to be something to keep a close eye on after he missed the final two periods tonight. I don't get the impression it is anything serious, but we'll know more tomorrow. I always love being in the arena for games since there is nothing close to a hockey atmosphere that I've ever experienced. It was a good game and the result was even better.