"Why Don't You Take a Seat": 2025-26 Regular Season, Game 27: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Nashville Predators

After their lackluster performance on Thursday night, just about anything would've been better for the home team than what they put out against the Toronto Maple Leafs. They looked flat for the entire second half of the contest, and Toronto made them pay. With a weekend back-to-back on the docket, the Canes needed a much better effort against a Nashville team they couldn't figure out a season ago. With Jesperi Kotkaniemi back in the lineup, they'll get a little more skill on the fourth line, but it means nothing if they can't get to Juuse Saros early.

Scoring Summary

1st Period

CAR (8:01-PP)- Taylor Hall (6) (Jackson Blake (10) & Logan Stankoven (7))

CAR (9:55-PP)- Nikolaj Ehlers (6) (Seth Jarvis (8) & Shayne Gostisbehere (17))

CAR (19:44)- William Carrier (2) (Jordan Martinook (7) & Jordan Staal (3))

2nd Period

CAR (15:46)- Jackson Blake (7) (Nikolaj Ehlers (12) & K'Andre Miller (10))

3rd Period

CAR (4:45)- Sebastian Aho (9) (unassisted)

NSH (6:26-PP)- Michael Bunting (7) (Luke Evangelista (15) & Erik Haula (12))

CAR (8:12)- Jackson Blake (8) (Nikolaj Ehlers (13))

NSH (9:09)- Matthew Wood (8) (Filip Forsberg (9) & Brady Skjei (7)) 

NSH (11:36)- Filip Forsberg (10) (Nick Blankenburg (8) & Spencer Stastney (8))

My Thoughts

There was so much to love about the Hurricanes' start tonight. First, the Hurricanes' second power play unit got on the board. Jackson Blake did a lot of the work, as his poke hit Taylor Hall's skate to beat Juuse Saros. Next, Alexander Nikishin laid a massive hit on Matthew Wood, which drew some ire and earned the Canes another power play. On the ensuing chance, Nikolaj Ehlers wired a one-timer home. That would've been more than enough, but William Carrier added one more in the final seconds, putting an early stranglehold on the game. While the goals were good, Nikishin's hit feels like an underappreciated part of the entire effort. It was through the body of Wood and had the entire arena buzzing. It was a period during which the scoreboard and the shot chart correctly told a story that showed that the Hurricanes were in complete control.

This was a group effort, but Blake and Ehlers were the stars of the show. Both earned their first three-point games of the season, while Blake picked up his second multi-goal effort. Ehlers earned a pair of primary assists on Blake's goals. The first was more about finesse, while the second was more about his pressure and presence. Blake's first goal, the lone tally of the second, was gorgeous. He's shown a willingness to go to the middle of the ice with the puck. Sometimes, it doesn't work. This time, it worked to perfection. His second goal, making it 6-1, chased Saros from the game.

This game was pretty much all Carolina, but they didn't do a great job of closing the door. The door was 95% closed by the start of the third period, yet the Predators did enough to make the Canes sweat in the third. Sebastian Aho's breakaway goal should've been the final nail. However, the Predators responded with three of the next four goals, cutting their deficit in half just under nine minutes to go. Bussi, who was great, was hung out to dry a little by his defense, especially on the last two goals. Regardless, they were far enough ahead that it was a non-issue. I'd appreciate it if they didn't carry it into Sunday's contest.

For my "must-win weekend", the Canes are halfway done with their work. They beat the Predators in a fashion they should've, given their position in the standings. The "tougher" of the two games comes on Sunday. It was encouraging to see the offense get back to its game. Nine of the 12 forwards recorded a point. The power play scored twice, which hadn't happened this season. They did their job, got some help around the league, and are now a little closer to the Capitals. It was a good day to be a Hurricane.

First Star of the Game: Jackson Blake

We were one skate deflection away from getting our first Jackson Blake hat trick. Still, there were plenty of great things about his night. He took a penalty that led to a goal, but that was about the only big negative for him. He scored twice and added an assist, so it was a pretty good night for the sophomore forward.

Next Up: The Canes have two more games remaining on the homestand, beginning tomorrow night against the San Jose Sharks. They wrap their stay at the Lenovo Center on Tuesday night when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets. To close next week, they visit the nation's capital on Thursday before a weekend home-and-home with the Philadelphia Flyers.