Preds Conclude Preseason Back-to-Back With Loss to Hurricanes

On the heels of a Saturday night road trip to Tampa Bay, the Nashville Predators closed out their preseason road slate Sunday night in Carolina, where they fell to the Hurricanes by a 4-2 final.

Prospects Tanner Molendyk, Reid Schaefer, Ozzy Weisblatt and Ryan Ufko spotlighted the Preds roster card. The back-to-back nights of away action proved to be a good test for the young talent and those looking to make the Opening Night roster.

“I thought the guys battled, battled all night,” Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. “I think there were some ebbs and flows of the game where we kind of carried momentum, and then they brought it right back to us. So, I thought guys did a great job.”

“I mean, no quit in this group,” Preds defenseman Nick Blankenburg said. “I know some guys had a couple back-to-backs and late nights last night, and obviously a younger team coming on the road against just a hard-nosed Carolina team. I think there's some things we can learn from and continue to get better at but, I mean, that's what training camps are for, so just continue to build off it and go from there.”

Minutes after a strong penalty kill in the first period, the Preds capitalized on a turnover – forced by Cole O’Hara. Dylan Gambrell ripped a shot on goal, with Daniel Carr cleaning up the rebound in the crease. Carr’s first goal of the preseason gave the Preds an early 1-0 - six minutes into the first frame.

The lead was short-lived, as Carolina’s Felix Unger Sorum scored the equalizer 39 seconds after Carr’s goal..

The teams were tied 1-1 after 20 minutes of play, but Carolina broke the tie on their first power play of the second act. Bradley Nadeau connected on a slap shot from the right circle to put the Hurricanes ahead 2-1, with five minutes remaining in the period.

The final stanza featured three goals - scored within two minutes - and fireworks as a product of a strong hit from Oasiz Weisblatt leading to a spirited scrap with Kevin Labanc.

“It was fun to see the Wiesblatt brothers play together,” Brunette smiled. “Oasiz is a fun player.”

Nadeau netted his second goal of the night on a quick connection near the post from Logan Stankoven – giving Carolina a 3-1 lead. Nashville responded within a minute, thanks to Schaefer putting a bow on a beautiful sequence from Zachary L’Heureux and Ozzy Weisblatt.

But Charles Alexis Legault silenced Nashville’s comeback effort with a goal 22 seconds later – Carolina carried a 4-2 advantage to the final horn.

With only one preseason game remaining – Oct. 4 at home against the Hurricanes – Blankenburg and the Preds will now look to make the most out of the final week of Training Camp.

“Just continue to enjoy it, right? Like, I'm living the dream right here, just being able to be in an NHL training camp and have fun and just trying to be in the present and just honestly enjoy each day,” Blankenburg said. “My dad always says, ‘Do your best and forget the rest,’ so that's what I'll be doing, just working hard and having fun.”

Notes:

Justus Annunen made 34 saves in net for Nashville.

The Preds have one more preseason game on the schedule - an afternoon tilt against Carolina on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena - before Opening Night arrives on Oct. 9 against Columbus.