Recap: Canes Best Predators

NASHVILLE - A gutsy team effort led to the Carolina Hurricanes getting back in the win column with a 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators.
Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Vincent Trocheck led the way offensively with two points (1g, 1a) each, while James Reimer made 31 saves in his first start of the season.

HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY | STATISTICS

Fist Bumps

Andrei Svechnikov
Svechnikov extended his season-opening goal streak to three games, as his power-play marker opened the scoring at the 16:05 mark of the second period.
From the left circle, Svechnikov fired off a blazing wrister that scorched past Pekka Rinne. The release on Svechnikov's shot is really something to behold.

"His goal was a high-end goal," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "He was a difference-maker tonight."
Just past the midway mark of the third period, Svechnikov fed Aho on a two-on-one rush for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
Vincent Trocheck
When the Predators were loose with their puck in their own end early in the third period, Trocheck took advantage. The puck popped out from along the boards, and Trocheck skated it to the middle of the ice, where he kicked his left leg up and picked Rinne's blocker-side corner with an absolute snipe of a shot for his second goal in as many games.

"That was a huge goal. He's going to compete every night," Brind'Amour said. "He's making some good plays for us, and that's obviously why we got him."
James Reimer
Making his first start of the season, Reimer was steady and sharp in the crease, as he backstopped his team to victory with 31 saves. He was especially big early, when the Canes were outshot 12-7 in the first frame while they settled into the game.
"It's nice to get shots as long as they don't go in," Reimer smiled.

Even as Nashville hung around late in the second and midway through the third, Reimer remained stout in his crease. The Canes are going to
rely on both of their goaltenders
this season, and to see this performance out of Reimer in his season debut is encouraging for the team.
"He was great. It always seems to come down to goaltending in this league," Brind'Amour said. "They had some really good looks, and he was just sharp. I think that was settling for us."

Plus/Minus

Plus: Jake Gardiner
Gardiner tallied the secondary assist on what turned out to be the game-winning goal, but it was so much more than that. In his own zone, Gardiner turned and made a fantastic stick play on an attempted backdoor pass, saving what would have likely been the game-tying goal. He then moved the puck up the ice to spring Svechnikov and Aho on a 2-on-1 rush, which the two skill forwards finished, padding the Canes lead to 3-1.

Minus: Faceoffs
Without Jordan Staal, the Canes got crushed in the faceoff circle. Aho was the only player to win a faceoff in the first period for the Canes, and the Predators finished the game winning 67% of the draws. Aho was 8-for-16, while everyone else was just 7-for-29.
"These are things you miss when the big guy's out," Brind'Amour shrugged. "That's just part of it."

Stats Pack

296: Dougie Hamilton was not credited with a shot on goal, so his shot streak ends at 296 consecutive games played.
3:Teuvo Teravainen played just three shifts in the second and third periods, all on the power play. Brind'Amour mentioned this morning that the team had "a lot of nicked up guys," and sure enough, Teravainen was among them.
"He tweaked something. We kind of kept him around for the one power play because he said he thought he could kind of stand over there and work his magic," Brind'Amour said. "I'm not sure where he stands for tomorrow."
Perhaps we see Steven Lorentz make his NHL debut on Tuesday night.

Quote of the Night

"You just get in there, try to play your game and trust it. Know that you're going to make mistakes and that's all right. Just stay with it, trust it and hopefully it's a good outcome." - James Reimer

Up Next

The Canes and Predators will renew pleasantries in the second half of the back-to-back set less than 24 hours from now.