Hurricanes push past Predators in third period

Vincent Trocheck, Sebastian Aho and Nino Niederreiter scored third-period goals as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated host Nashville 4-2 on Monday, handing the Predators their first loss in three games this season. Goalie Pekka Rinne made 20 stops for Nashville. Nashville quickly countered, closing within 3-2 at 13:26 when Ryan Johansen delivered the puck so…

Vincent Trocheck, Sebastian Aho and Nino Niederreiter scored third-period

goals as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated host Nashville 4-2 on Monday,

handing the Predators their first loss in three games this season.

Goalie James Reimer made his first appearance of the season for theHurricanes, stopping 31 shots.

Aho, Trocheck and Andrei Svechnikov each provided a goal and two assists forCarolina. Svechnikov has three goals across the team’s first three games.

Niederreiter scored an empty-net goal with 36 seconds remaining, his firsttally of the season.

Filip Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson scored for the Predators, who have droppedeight of their past nine meetings with Carolina, going 1-6-2. Arvidsson alsohad an assist.

Goalie Pekka Rinne made 20 stops for Nashville.

Trocheck’s unassisted goal came 3:46 into the third period to break a 1-1 tie.Seven minutes later, Svechnikov set up Aho’s goal with a pass after JakeGardiner did splendid work to secure the puck, giving Carolina a two-goaledge.

Nashville quickly countered, closing within 3-2 at 13:26 when Ryan Johansendelivered the puck so that Arvidsson could score on the power play.

Reimer was sharp most of the night, beginning by stopping all 12 shots hefaced during a scoreless first period.

Of the Hurricanes’ 24 shots on net in the game, 10 came in the third period.

Center Morgan Geekie stayed in Carolina’s lineup with captain Jordan Staalremaining on the COVID-19 protocol list.

This was the front end of meetings between the teams on consecutive nights,with the Hurricanes closing their four-game, season-opening road trip Tuesdaynight. Carolina plays its home opener Thursday against the Florida Panthers.

Nashville opened the season with a pair of home-ice victories against theColumbus Blue Jackets.

–Field Level Media