Skinner's hat trick leads Hurricanes over Predators 5-2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Jeff Skinner had a hat trick to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Predators Thursday night.

Skinner has five goals in his past two games.

Justin Faulk and Riley Nash also scored for Carolina, winners of its past two.

Mike Fisher and Viktor Stalberg scored for Nashville, which completed a four-game homestand 0-3-1.

Faulk scored the game's first goal just 23 seconds after the opening faceoff with a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot that beat Nashville goaltender Marek Mazanec between the pads.

Nashville tied it at 50 seconds of the second on Fisher's goal.

Defenceman Victor Bartley fired a slap shot toward the Carolina net from the left point. Standing just to the left of the slot, Fisher tipped the puck over the shoulder of Carolina goaltender Justin Peters.