Predators 2, Hurricanes 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Center Craig Smith once again opened the Nashville Predators' season in style.
Scoring his team's first goal for the second consecutive home opener, Smith helped Nashville open a season of great expectations Thursday night with a 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Bridgestone Arena.
With Carolina center Jordan Staal in the penalty box after high-sticking defenseman Ryan Ellis in the first minute, Smith tipped in Ellis' shot at 2:23, and the Predators had a lead they never relinquished.
Rookie left winger Viktor Arvidsson added his first NHL goal at 17:03 of the first period off a bizarre double deflection. Defenseman Seth Jones' wrister from the point caromed off center Calle Jarnkrok and was then redirected in by Arvidsson, who celebrated his milestone tally with a Tiger Woods-style fist pump.
Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne made the early goals stand up with 25 saves. However, he was denied his 37th career shutout when center Victor Rask tipped in center Eric Staal's shot at 18:20 of the third period, shortly after the Hurricanes pulled goalie Cam Ward for an extra skater.
Ward collected 23 saves, including a spectacular glove stop on left winger James Neal to deny Nashville a power play tally in the second period.
Nashville dominated the first 20 minutes, putting 14 shots on goal to Carolina's five and owning a 24-10 advantage in total shots.
The Hurricanes delivered a much better performance over the final two periods, firing off six straight shots on Rinne in one second-period stretch but failing to solve the veteran. A kick save on right winger Kris Versteeg's wrister from the right faceoff circle probably was Rinne's finest save in that sequence.
Carolina defenseman James Wisniewski departed the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and didn't return.
NOTES: Carolina's scratches were C Brad Malone and D Michal Jordan. ... Nashville scratched D Anthony Bitetto and D Victor Bartley, along with LW Austin Watson. ... Hurricanes D Noah Hanifin made his NHL debut Thursday night at 18 years and eight months old. He is the only defenseman from the 2015 draft class to make an opening-night roster.