Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Vincent Trocheck each had a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 Monday night.
Nino Niederreiter also scored and James Reimer made 31 saves for Carolina.
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Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Vincent Trocheck each had a goal and an assist as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 Monday night.
After Nashville’s Rocco Grimaldi turned the puck over inside the blue line, Trocheck skated to the high slot and fired a wrist shot high to the far side of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne at 3:46 of the third to put Carolina up 2-1.
Arvidsson cut Carolina’s lead to 3-2 at 13:26 of the third with a power-play goal, Nashville’s first of the season.
Forsberg answered 46 seconds later. From deep in the Nashville zone, Dante Fabbro sent a stretch pass toward center ice. There, Arvidsson tipped the puck ahead to Forsberg, who managed to stay on-side before breaking in on the left side. He then cut to the low slot, where he slipped a wrist shot under Reimer's glove.
Forsberg has scored in each of Nashville’s first three games of the season. Last season, Forsberg set a Predators franchise record by scoring in each of the first four games. He can equal his own record Tuesday night should he tally in the second half of the back-to-back set with the Hurricanes.
Nashville has surrendered the first goal in each of the team’s first three games this season. Unlike the first two, the Predators were not able to turn Monday night’s deficit into a victory.
Reimer is in his second season with Carolina. He posted a 14-6-2 record in 2019-20.
Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and an assist and Filip Forsberg also scored for Nashville.
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) moves the puck past Nashville Predators right wing Mathieu Olivier (25) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew NellesThe Tennessean via AP)
After Nashville’s Rocco Grimaldi turned the puck over inside the blue line, Trocheck skated to the high slot and fired a wrist shot high to the far side of Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne at 3:46 of the third to put Carolina up 2-1.
Rinne finished with 20 saves.
Just after the midpoint of the third, Jake Gardiner broke up a solid Nashville scoring chance and then sent a breakout pass to Svechnikov to create a 2-on-1 with Aho, who was able to beat Rinne off of Svechnikov’s cross-slot pass.
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer (47) defends the net against the Nashville Predators during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew NellesThe Tennessean via AP)
Arvidsson cut Carolina’s lead to 3-2 at 13:26 of the third with a power-play goal, Nashville’s first of the season.
Svechnikov scored the game’s first goal at 16:05 of the second period. With the Hurricanes on a power play, Svechnikov fired a wrist shot from above the left circle by Rinne on the short side.
The Hurricanes have scored a power-play goal in each of their three games this season.
Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer (47) blocks a shot from Nashville Predators left wing Erik Haula (56) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew NellesThe Tennessean via AP)
Forsberg answered 46 seconds later. From deep in the Nashville zone, Dante Fabbro sent a stretch pass toward center ice. There, Arvidsson tipped the puck ahead to Forsberg, who managed to stay on-side before breaking in on the left side. He then cut to the low slot, where he slipped a wrist shot under Reimer's glove.
Niederreiter scored an empty-net goal in the game's final minute.
STRONG STARTS
Nashville Predators right wing Viktor Arvidsson (33) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes with left wing Filip Forsberg (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew NellesThe Tennessean via AP)
Forsberg has scored in each of Nashville’s first three games of the season. Last season, Forsberg set a Predators franchise record by scoring in each of the first four games. He can equal his own record Tuesday night should he tally in the second half of the back-to-back set with the Hurricanes.
Svechnikov has a goal in each of Carolina’s first three games of the season. Only Kevin Dineen, 5 in 1990-91 and Eric Staal, 4 in 2005-06 have scored in more games to start the season in Whalers/Hurricanes franchise history.
COMING FROM BEHIND
Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) looks at the net as a shot from Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov lands in the net for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew NellesThe Tennessean via AP)
Nashville has surrendered the first goal in each of the team’s first three games this season. Unlike the first two, the Predators were not able to turn Monday night’s deficit into a victory.
GOALTENDERS SEEING FIRST ACTION
Monday night featured two goaltenders seeing their first action of the young season.
Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) defends against Carolina Hurricanes left wing Brock McGinn (23) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew NellesThe Tennessean via AP)
Reimer is in his second season with Carolina. He posted a 14-6-2 record in 2019-20.
Rinne, who has played his entire career in Nashville, started the team’s previous 10 season-opening games prior to this season. Rinne was supplanted as Nashville’s top goaltender midway through last season by fellow Finn Juuse Saros, who posted victories in the Predators first two games against Columbus.
UP NEXT
A shot from Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jordan Martinook (48) misses the net past Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew NellesThe Tennessean via AP)
The Predators and Hurricanes return to Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday night to complete the second half of the back-to-back series. This is the first set of back-to-back games for both teams.