Slavin's shootout goal lifts Hurricanes past Predators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Defenseman Jaccob Slavin scored on the last attempt of a shootout Saturday night as the Carolina Hurricanes kept the Nashville Predators in an early-season slump with a 3-2 win at Bridgestone Arena.
Slavin slid the puck through the legs of goalie Pekka Rinne (2-4-3) as Carolina (3-4-3) won for the first time in four games decided after regulation this season.
Nashville (3-5-3) lost for the sixth time in seven games, failing to take advantage of home ice after a 1-2-2 road trip out west. It was the start of a four-game homestand for the Predators.
Craig Smith, Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg failed to convert in the shootout for Nashville, which fell to 0-3 in games decided after regulation. Jeff Skinner and Teuvo Teravainen were denied for the Hurricanes before Slavin decided matters.
Carolina evened the score with a short-handed goal at 8:22 of the third period. With defense partner Justin Faulk in the box for hooking, Ron Hainsey tallied his first goal of the season, taking a pass from Elias Lindholm and slipping a forehand through the legs of Pekka Rinne.
Cam Ward (2-3-2) stopped 25 shots for the Hurricanes, denying at least four breakaways in regulation and then coming up with a clutch save on Filip Forsberg's backhand about a minute before overtime’s conclusion. Rinne made 23 saves.
Nashville initiated scoring at 9:44 of the first period when Colin Wilson sent James Neal in on a breakaway with a perfect pass of about 100 feet. With defenseman Ryan Murphy draped on him, Neal beat Cam Ward to the glove side for his second goal of the season.
Carolina owned the puck for long stretches of the second period and finally cashed in at 13:25. Jeff Skinner wheeled around in the left faceoff circle and shot a wrister that caromed off the left goalpost and into the net for his sixth goal.
But the Predators regained the lead at 17:05 as Matt Irwin's wrister from the point made its way through heavy traffic and into the net. It was the third goal in as many games for Irwin, who has dressed for just five of Nashville's 11 contests.
NOTES: Carolina RW Lee Stempniak played in his 800th NHL game Saturday night, getting the start on the first line with C Victor Rask and LW Jeff Skinner. ... Nashville C Mike Fisher (upper body) missed his second straight game after being injured in Tuesday night's 5-1 win at Colorado. ... The Hurricanes scratched D Klas Dahlbeck, D Jacub Nakladal and LW Bryan Bickell. ... Predators scratches were D Matt Carle and LW Harry Zolnierczyk.