Hurricanes Can’t Solve Rinne, Shut Out by Predators

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 29: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators looks to deflect the puck past Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes who goes down in the crease to protect the net during an NHL game on November 29, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 29: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Nashville Predators looks to deflect the puck past Petr Mrazek #34 of the Carolina Hurricanes who goes down in the crease to protect the net during an NHL game on November 29, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
4 of 4
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 29: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators get tangled up during an NHL game on November 29, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – NOVEMBER 29: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes and Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators get tangled up during an NHL game on November 29, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Penalty Kill Continued to Dominate

This game was pretty bad overall, but instead of just focusing on the negative aspects of this game, there was one positive that I felt is definitely worth mentioning. The penalty kill was very good tonight. Something that has been a strength for Carolina for many seasons continued to show why in tonight’s game.

More from Cardiac Cane

Coming into tonight’s matchup against the Predators, Carolina’s penalty kill had successfully killed off 11 out of 13 total chances in the last 5 games. They were ranked 8th in the league, killing off 83.7% of the penalties they had taken. They needed the special teams to come up big in this one, and it was the penalty kill that shined for the team tonight, in a game where there wasn’t much of any positives overall.

The Hurricanes were very undisciplined in this game, taking too many penalties overall. The good thing is, the penalty kill came up big when it mattered. They successfully killed off all four penalties they took tonight and did so with relative ease. Nashville had some great looks on their first power play opportunity, but the most important penalty killer, Petr Mrazek, shut them down.

Even with Nashville’s power play not being very good so far this season, it’s always important to play any team strong when you’re down a man. Carolina definitely achieved that tonight, and it was certainly worthy of a mention. With all the negative things we can takeaway from this game, at least there was one positive aspect that continued to dominate.

Next Game: At Tampa Bay on November 30th

Schedule