For the second time in ten days, the Carolina Hurricanes met the Nashville Predators. After the Canes dominated from beginning to end in a 6-3 win in Raleigh on December 6, the Predators welcomed the Canes to Broadway. The visitors sought to match their season-long win streak by winning their fifth in a row, though avoiding extra hockey would be nice after three straight shootout victories.
Pyotr Kochetkov took the net for the Hurricanes, looking to build off his victory on Saturday night in the shootout over the Flyers. The group in front of him remained the same from Sunday's victory, earned by Brandon Bussi. Juuse Saros was back in the net for the Predators. He was pulled during the third period in Raleigh after allowing six goals, but he has rebounded with wins in three straight.
The opening frame was almost all Carolina, and the shot chart reflected it. However, the scoreboard only showed one goal. Fortunately, that went to the Hurricanes. Jackson Blake got inside Nick Perbix to be in the right spot to knock home a rebound chance. Along with Blake recording his ninth goal, Alexander Nikishin extended his point streak to four as the Canes finished the period up 1-0.
The Hurricanes continued to put incredible pressure on the Predators in the second period, but they couldn't get anything past Saros. The Nashville netminder was frustratingly good, stoning every shot thrown at him. Kochetkov wasn't nearly as busy, though he did his best to match his counterpart. He didn't let anything past him either, keeping it a 1-0 game after 40 minutes.
After two frustrating periods, the Canes broke it open in the third. Sebastian Aho ended his five-game drought, burying one on the power play to extend the lead. Less than two minutes later, Seth Jarvis joined the party, finishing a one-timer from Aho. Filip Forsberg got the Predators on the board, but that's all they'd get. Aho scored into the empty net to complete a three-point period in a 4-1 victory.
Welcome back, Sebastian Aho
He didn't go anywhere, but his game certainly did. After five games, Sebastian Aho made his presence felt during the third. His last point came when the Canes hosted the Predators, scoring on a breakaway against Juuse Saros. The importance of this goal is threefold. Along with getting him back on the scoresheet, it was another strike for the power play while helping to extend the lead.
With what is coming up this weekend, this was the game Aho needed. His night wasn't done with his goal. He set up Seth Jarvis to make it 3-0 before sealing the deal into the empty net. It was a great period for the entire top line, with Jarvis getting his 19th goal of the season, while Andrei Svechnikov helped create both of Aho's goals.
Kochetkov prevented Nashville from clawing back in the third
Having to watch Saros stone-wall the Hurricanes for most of the night, Pyotr Kochetkov was cooler than the other side of the pillow when the moment required him to be big. The Predators accumulated more shots in the third period than they did in the first two periods. Kochetkov was ready for the push. He gave up one goal, but he was outstanding otherwise.
The Canes have a clear tandem that needs to see most of the work for the time being. As Brandon Bussi continues to drive the bus, Kochetkov has put together a pair of good starts in Philadelphia and Nashville. He was clearly feeling it so much tonight that he tried to score an empty-net goal when the Predators dumped the puck in. Roman Josi knocked it down, denying him his first NHL goal.
Additional Thoughts
All of the big stuff happened in the third period, which might make you forget that Jackson Blake was the star of the show for Carolina during the first two. He simply loves facing the Predators. After two goals and an assist in Raleigh ten days ago, Blake added the opening goal tonight and provided another assist on the power play in the third, bringing him to five points in two games this season.
On the somber side of things, Jordan Martinook exited the game in the second period with a lower-body injury, keeping him out for the third. The head coach didn't have much to offer postgame about the extent of the injury, though it's never a good thing when a player with a high pain threshold isn't about to go. Hopefully, it won't be anything too serious.
With tonight's victory, the Hurricanes have matched their longest win streak of the campaign after opening the season with five straight wins. It also helps to push their division lead to five points over the Islanders with a game in hand. Most importantly, it keeps them rolling in the right direction before a big weekend in Florida.
Up Next: The Carolina Hurricanes head to the Sunshine State for a weekend back-to-back against two good teams. It starts with their first encounter with the Florida Panthers on Friday night since the Cats eliminated the Canes in the conference finals. On Saturday, they'll head to Tampa Bay to battle the Lightning. Before Christmas, the Canes will have one more tilt against the Cats.