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 Each team ranked in the bottom third in the NHL in scoring and
both were one of only seven teams in the league to average fewer
than 2.40 goals-per-game.
But by the second intermission Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena,
the teams combined for six goals — two from Hurricanes forward Jeff
Skinner, who finished with a hat trick in the game.
Carolina's two-goal lead after two periods held up as the Hurricanes
defeated the Predators 5-2 to win their second straight game on the
road.
Carolina's offensive woes may be a thing of the past if Skinner can
become the sure-fire goal scorer the Canes lacked in recent seasons.
Skinner, a third-year forward, had the first hat trick of his young
career.
"It's nice, I've had a couple two-goal games but I couldn't seem to
find the third one," Skinner said.
With the Hurricanes (12-12-5) trailing 2-1 early in the second
period, Skinner scored in transition when his soft wrist shot from
the right circle deflected off Predators goalie Marek Mazanec's
right leg pad and trickled into the net. Skinner's goal ignited a
stretch of three Hurricanes goals in 13 minutes as Carolina handed
Nashville (13-13-3) its fourth straight loss.
Roughly five minutes later, center Riley Nash gave the Hurricanes
the lead for good with his second goal of the season.
Nash trailed the play on a three-on-two break and was the recipient
of a nifty pass from right winger Patrick Dwyer. Skating along the
right flank, Dwyer drew the puck back to an open Nash, who one-timed
it into the goal.
Skinner added his second goal on a power play at 19:08 of the second
period with a high slap shot into the left corner of the net over
Mazanec's glove. Hurricanes center Eric Staal drew in a Predators'
defenseman while skating behind the net before spotting an open
Skinner near the blue line.
"He made a nice pass coming around the net to get it to me and did a
great job in front of screening the goalie," Skinner said.
After finishing 0-for-6 on the power play in Sunday's 3-2 loss to
the Canucks, the Hurricanes have two power-play goals in their last
two games. In practice, Skinner said his team worked on simplifying
its power play to place more shots on net.
Muller is confident that Skinner can continue his hot streak if he
remains aggressive with his shot. With six shots on goal Thursday,
Skinner has 13 shots in his last two games. Skinner had the same
total in his previous seven games combined.
"I don't know how many shots he had on net tonight, but he can score
when gets those opportunities," Muller said. "He's working for it."
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The Predators took the lead with two goals
within the opening three minutes of the second period. First,
Nashville center Mike Fisher tied the score at 1 when he
redirected a slap shot from defenseman Victor Bartley past
Hurricanes goalie Justin Peters 0:50 of the second.
The Predators took their only lead of the game at 2:41 of the
period when left winger Viktor Stalberg scored his third goal of
the season on a backhand rebound. It took Carolina less than 30
seconds to score the game's opening goal when defenseman Justin
Faulk beat Mazanec with an unassisted shot under his leg.
Mazanec was pulled for Carter Hutton after the second
intermission. The NHL Rookie of the Month for November
surrendered at least three goals for the second straight game.
Before Tuesday's loss to Vancouver, Mazanec went nine straight
starts without allowing three goals.
"Mazanec has been so good but tonight he just didn't give us a
save," Trotz said. "We knew they were going to come out fast
when they scored on the first shift. Their top guys were good
tonight and we didn't have a match for them. They got four goals
in 13 shots, that's not a good night for us."
Peters, who finished with 20 saves, improved to 6-7-1 on the
season. Skinner capped the scoring with an empty net goal at
17:53.
"He's a dynamic player," Bartley said. "He will shoot off the
rush and shoot when he's turning. You really have to be on your
game to try to block shots against him. If we're going to win
games we have to sacrifice and block shots."
NOTES: Predators G Marek Mazanec received NHL Rookie of the
Month honors for November after posting a 5-4-1 record with a
2.00 goals-against-average, .932 save percentage and two
shutouts in 11 appearances during the month. ... Entering
Thursday night's game, Predators rookie D Seth Jones led all
first-year NHL players in average ice time per game (23:55). The
figure is almost three minutes more than the next closest
rookie, Jacob Trouba of Winnipeg. Jones has the top six ice
times by rookies in the league this season. ... Hurricanes RW
Alexander Semin missed his ninth consecutive game with a
concussion. Hurricanes D Tim Gleason, D Brent Bellemore and RW
Kevin Westgarth were also scratched. ... The Hurricanes finished
Thursday's win short-handed, as F Patrick Dwyer, D Mike
Komisarek (lower body) and F Drayson Bowman (lower body) all
left with injuries. Dwyer underwent further testing, according
to the Hurricanes. Muller did not indicate if any of the three
players will be available on Friday vs. San Jose.
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